Overview

• The conductor was struck by a passing train around 9:40 a.m. Sunday in Columbus, about 40 miles southwest of Billings.
• Emergency responders reported the worker was found between two parallel trains, one stationary and one moving.
• The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration dispatched investigators, with local police and county deputies on scene.
• Authorities have not released the conductor’s identity, and BNSF directed all questions to the NTSB.
• The case adds scrutiny to rail worker safety following an FRA review that found some BNSF employees hesitate to report concerns.