A Scranton man was killed when the truck he was driving was struck by a train late yesterday morning. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 62-year-old Ron Nielson of Scranton, was westbound in the 6000 block of 189th Street, about three tenths of a mile east of K-31 near 56 Highway around 10:00 yesterday morning February 9, when for an unknow reason he failed to yield to an approaching Burlington Northern Santa Fee train. The train struck his vehicle and carried it nearly a mile down the tracks from the point of impact. Nielson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nielson was a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, it is not clear if he wa delivering mail at the time of the accident. The crossing where the incident occurred is not protected by lights and safety barricades, only having railroad crossing sign with a yield sign by the tracks. No further details were released by the highway patrol.
