A devastating train collision on Friday, January 30, 2026, claimed the lives of Douglas Stewart, 61, and his wife, Tiffany Stewart, 42, both of rural Cass Lake, when their sport utility vehicle was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train at a rural railroad crossing just southeast of Bemidji.
The tragedy has shaken friends, family, and the wider north‑central Minnesota community as investigators continue to piece together exactly what happened.
According to the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, authorities received a report of the collision at approximately 9:57 a.m. on County Road 101 in Farden Township, a sparsely populated area about 12 miles southeast of Bemidji. The train conductor, identified in initial reports as Lee Silcox, 36, of Kempton, North Dakota, dialed 911 to report the accident after the westbound freight train collided with the couple’s vehicle at the railroad crossing.
Investigators say that Douglas Stewart was driving a 2016 Dodge Journey southbound on County Road 101. As the vehicle approached the crossing, it came to a stop at a stop sign just ahead of the tracks.
It appears that after pausing, the SUV proceeded to enter and cross the railroad tracks directly into the path of the oncoming train. The collision occurred before the train could come to a stop, and both Stewart and his wife, Tiffany, who was the passenger, were killed instantly and pronounced dead at the scene by responding medical personnel.
Emergency responders, including county deputies and medical crews, were dispatched quickly to the scene. Because the crash occurred in a remote area with limited infrastructure, the initial discovery and response were led by local law enforcement and first responders who worked to secure the site and notify the Stewarts’ family.
The collision remains under active investigation by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, which is working to determine whether visibility, equipment malfunction, driver error, or other factors contributed to the tragic decision to cross the tracks in front of the train.
No public details have yet been released about whether crossing warning lights, signals, or other safety devices were present or functioning at that location.
While the immediate cause is still under review, such accidents often prompt discussions about rural railroad crossing safety, particularly in areas where stop signs are the only traffic control devices.
Trains cannot stop quickly due to their mass and momentum, and even at reduced speeds can take a mile or more to come to a complete halt after engineers apply brakes.
As news of the Stewarts’ deaths spread, community members in Cass Lake and Bemidji expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the couple. Friends and neighbors described both Douglas and Tiffany as active, beloved residents of the area.
Local tributes highlighted their strong family ties, involvement in community activities, and the profound impact they had on those around them. Although formal obituary details have yet to be released by the family or local funeral homes, residents have begun sharing memories and condolences across social media and in person.
In the coming days, the Sheriff’s Office is expected to release further updates as the investigation concludes. Meanwhile, family members are planning funeral services to honor both Douglas and Tiffany Stewart, remembering the couple for their contributions to the community and the love they shared throughout their lives together.
