EMS, Fire respond to Train vs Semi accident by Christensen Farms

Type of Incident:    Semi vs Train accident

Date of Incident:    04-04-2025   Time of Incident:    1413 hours

Location of Incident:    24170 US Highway 14, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

Names, Ages, Address of Person(s) involved:

Semi Driver – Robert Thomas Jewett, New Richland, Minnesota – age 24

Train Occupant – Jeffrey Alan Schafer, Madison Lake, Minnesota – age 56

Train Occupant – Thomas Herman Behsman, Madison Lake, Minnesota – age 57

Details of Incident:

On Friday, April 4, 2025 at approximately 1413 hours the Brown County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of a semi vs train accident at 24170 US Highway 14, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

A 1996 International Harvester semi tractor-trailer combination, driven by Robert Thomas Jewett, was westbound on US Highway 14 attempting to turn into a business at 24170 US Highway 14, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota when it was struck by a Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad train occupied by Jeffrey Alan Schafer and Thomas Herman Behsman.

The occupants were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The 1996 International Harvester semi tractor and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad train received damage. The Wilson grain trailer was totaled.

The Sleepy Eye Ambulance, the Sleepy Eye Fire Department, the Minnesota State Patrol and Brown County Sheriff’s Office all responded to this call for service.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind you of the following railroad crossing safety tips for drivers:

• Slow down when approaching a railroad crossing.
• Stop and listen at the railroad crossing.
• Stay back when necessary
• Have patience.
• LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING.
• Do not stop on the train tracks.
• Never drive under or around the gates or past the lights (if flashing).
• Wait until the gates are completely raised and the lights have stopped flashing before crossing.