While garbage truck accidents and train accidents usually exist on two completely different spectrums, this is one incident in which the two met and, fortunately, the results were not fatal.
Sean Michael, 41, of Conway St. Cloud was traveling westbound on 5th Street Southeast in Rockford Township on September 19 at 6:30 a.m when he come to a railroad crossing.
As Michael was crossing the tracks, the garbage truck had become stuck, but Michael was unsuccessful at freeing himself from the tracks. He then had difficulty getting out of the truck. Unfortunately, he did not get out of the truck before being struck by a Canadian Pacific Train that was heading Southeast on the tracks.
It has currently not been said why the truck was stuck on the tracks or why Michael had difficulty exiting the truck before the train struck. Fortunately, no one on the Canadian Pacific Train was not injured and fast thinking by the train’s engineer slowed the train down just enough to prevent Michael’s injuries from being worse.
Michael was airlifted to Mercy Hospital by Life Link. Life Link, along with Allina Ambulance, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Buffalo Fire Department responded to the accident.
The accident is currently being investigated.
