Driver Killed After Vehicle Struck by BNSF Train in Coon Rapids
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A submitted photo shows the vehicle involved in a crash in Coon Rapids on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.
A 43-year-old woman was killed Thursday afternoon after a collision with a BNSF Railway train at a railroad crossing in Coon Rapids.
The crash happened at about 4 p.m. at the intersection of 119th Avenue Northwest and Northdale Boulevard Northwest.
Initial information indicates a train struck the vehicle at the crossing and the sole occupant had to be extricated. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
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Authorities later identified the driver as Sara Beth Barber, of Coon Rapids.
BNSF Railway confirmed there were no injuries reported among the train crew. The company said the crossing is equipped with gates, lights and bells.
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Officials have not said what led up to the collision or whether speed, impairment or other factors may have played a role. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash as of Friday morning.
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