DUNN COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) –
A truck driver is hurt after colliding with a train in Dunn County.
Elk Mound police say several departments responded to the scene at railroad crossing 183927E on Stardust Drive, just north of the intersection of 970th Street and U. S. Highway 12 around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday.
According to a press release, the preliminary investigation suggests the farm truck hauling corn grain was eastbound on Highway 12, then turned left onto 970th Street, when the driver made an improper stop at the crossing, which has a stop sign and railroad crossbucks, and stopped at a distance less than 15 feet from the rails.
The Union Pacific Railroad train, which has the right-of-way at the intersection, was westbound from Altoona toward the Twin Cities. The lead locomotive hit the farm truck, and the truck overturned to the southwest of the intersection, spilling the corn grain.
The 37-year-old truck driver was taken by Colfax Rescue to a local hospital; his condition is still unclear at this time.
There was no derailment or other issues with the train and UPRR staff were able to remove the train from the scene. UPRR staff are fully cooperating with the Elk Mound Police investigation.
970th Street was closed for several hours during the initial investigation and cleanup, but was reopened around 5:07 P.M.
Elk Mound Police are reminding everyone, including those who live near the tracks or whose routes frequently take them across the tracks, to be safe and always expect a train.
970th Avenue (Stardust Drive) now open.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says all lanes of traffic are now open.
According to information from Elk Mound Police Chief, Chad Weinberger, the crash was called at 12:41 p.m.
Weinberger says it is suspected that the truck was traveling north on 970th Street when it hit the front of the train.
According to Weinberger, the driver of the truck, an approximately 37-year-old man, was taken by ambulance.
The truck was hauling corn and the corn spilled during the crash.
Weinberger adds that the Department of Natural Resources is working with this incident because of diesel. The railroad is Union Pacific.
It is unknown the time when the train will be moved, and it is not believed that any train cars were derailed.
DUNN COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) – A crash occurred in Elk Mound on Dec. 12, 2023, at 12:45 p.m., according to information from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
WisDOT says all lanes are blocked on US 12 EB/WB at 970th St due to the crash.
According to our photographer at the scene, the crash involved a train and a truck. Corn spilled from the truck.
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