COLUMBUS, Mont. — The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the death of a BNSF conductor struck by a train on Sunday (Oct. 19, 2025), the agency has announced.
The fatality occurred about 9:40 a.m. in Columbus, KTVQ-TV reports. BNSF and Columbus police, as well as the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office, were also investigating the incident.
The accident led to an hours-long road closure because of blocked grade crossings before the train involved was able to move about 2:30 p.m., the station reports.
Columbus is about 40 miles west of Billings on BNSF’s MRL Subdivision, the former Montana Rail Link.
