Fort Leavenworth public-works employee struck and killed by train at crossing

A civilian employee was killed Tuesday in a collision with a train as he was operating heavy equipment, a spokesman for the Fort Leavenworth Garrison said.

Around 2:10 p.m., the public-works employee was operating a front loader at a railroad crossing near Sherman Army Airfield when he was struck by the train, said Scott Gibson, Fort Leavenworth’s public-affairs officer.

The train remained on the rails, Gibson said, and no one on board was injured. The crash occurred on tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad.

Many other details of the crash, including the identity of the person killed, were not immediately available. Gibson said Fort Leavenworth was awaiting next-of-kin notification to be completed before commenting on the employee’s death.

Gibson said local authorities were investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board and Union Pacific.