BURRTON, Kan. — One person is dead after a train accident Monday afternoon four-miles east of Burrton.
A farm tractor was pulling disc equipment southbound on South River Park Road, crossing railroad tracks near Southwest 24th Street, when it was struck by a westbound BNSF freight train around 3:48 p.m. Monday.
The impact caused the two lead locomotives to leave the tracks although both stayed upright. The train traveled another 1/4 mile from the point of impact. Crews were able to move the rest of the train away from the scene and BNSF was preparing to make repairs to the damaged track and get the locomotives back on the rails. No word on how long the tracks will be closed or how much if any delay this will cause for Amtrak which uses the route in the middle of the night.
Identification of the victim will be made available at a later time, pending notification of family.
The crossing at River Park Road was closed as well as the crossing on SW 24th just west of the accident site.