Douglas County, MN — December 19, 2025, one person was injured in a garbage truck versus train accident shortly before 8:45 a.m. along County Road 87.

According to authorities, the a man was traveling in a garbage truck in the 6500 block of C.R. 87 at a railroad crossing that is apparently controlled by stop signs—no arm guards—when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the garbage truck was struck by a train, causing the truck to overturn. The man was allegedly entrapped in the wreckage and had to be extracted by emergency personnel. Once freed from the aftermath, he was airlifted to an area medical facility in order to receive immediate treatment for the critical injuries he incurred over the course of the accident.

Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a garbage truck is struck by a train at a crossing controlled only by stop signs, the immediate question is whether the driver stopped, looked, and listened before proceeding across the tracks. But that’s just the beginning of the inquiry—especially when the vehicle involved is a large commercial truck that requires more time and distance to clear a crossing safely.

In rural areas like the stretch of County Road 87 described here, railroad crossings without gate arms or flashing lights rely entirely on driver judgment. Commercial drivers are trained to treat these intersections with extreme caution, not just because of the size of their vehicles, but because trains can approach quietly and deceptively fast. A garbage truck—often loaded with weight and slow to accelerate—is particularly vulnerable if the driver misjudges the timing or fails to confirm the tracks are clear.

That said, not every failure to yield at a crossing is the result of recklessness. In past cases I’ve handled, contributing factors have included overgrown vegetation, poor sightlines, or a malfunctioning train horn. If the crossing was obscured or visibility was compromised, the responsibility may not rest entirely on the driver’s shoulders. Investigators will need to inspect the approach angle, signage condition, and terrain to determine whether a reasonable operator could have seen or heard the train in time.

The company that operates the garbage truck will also be part of the equation. Did they train the driver on safe crossing procedures? Were the truck’s mirrors, brakes, and visibility aids in good working order? If the vehicle was overloaded or under-maintained, that could have made it harder for the driver to react in time. And if the route required frequent rail crossings, the company had a duty to identify and mitigate known risks.

Key Takeaways:

• Commercial drivers approaching passive railroad crossings must stop and confirm the tracks are clear before proceeding.
• The size and weight of a garbage truck increase the need for caution due to slow acceleration and limited visibility.
• Investigators will assess whether poor sightlines, signage issues, or environmental conditions played a role in the crash.
• The trucking company may bear liability if it failed to train the driver adequately or allowed unsafe equipment on the road.
• The outcome will likely hinge on physical evidence at the crossing and data from the truck and train to reconstruct the sequence of events.