Henning Farmer Recovering After Tractor Collides With Southbound Train
A 67 year old Henning man suffered minor injuries when the tractor he was driving was struck by a Canadian Pacific southbound train at a rail crossing on November 12. The incident totaled the tractor, left the train with minor damage, and underscores crossing safety and potential financial strain for local farm operations.
A Henning man is recovering after a collision between his tractor and a Canadian Pacific Railroad train at a county rail crossing just before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office reported that the 67 year old tractor driver was unable to stop before the crossing and was taken to a hospital in Perham with minor injuries. No one on the train was hurt.
Deputies described the tractor as totaled and said the train sustained only minor damage. Neighbors assisted in clearing farm machinery from the tracks after the crash, allowing rail traffic to resume. The official incident report was filed by the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office and republished by KFGO.
For local residents the immediate consequences were physical safety and property loss. The driver required hospital treatment and the destroyed tractor represents a direct economic setback for the individual operator, with repair or replacement costs and lost work time during a critical season. Although the train and its passengers were not injured and the railroad reported only minor damage, any crossing collision carries broader ripple effects for schedules, freight movement, and community confidence in rail crossing safety.
The crash highlights ongoing questions about safety at rural crossings where farm equipment meets active freight lines. Otter Tail County intersects a network of rail corridors used for grain and goods shipments, and incidents like this underline the need for vigilance at crossings, clear sight lines, and adherence to stopping protocols. Local emergency response worked alongside neighbors to secure the scene, demonstrating community resilience but not eliminating the economic and operational impacts on the farm involved.
Authorities have not released further details about the cause beyond the tractor being unable to stop, and no citations or further actions were noted in the initial sheriff’s office report. Residents who travel rural roads and crossings are reminded to exercise caution and report any maintenance or visibility concerns to county officials to help prevent similar incidents.
