Patrol identifies North Dakota man killed when his vehicle struck a moving train

Image created by Forum Communications Co. By Staff reports November 06, 2026 at 5:27 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? BURKE COUNTY, N.D. — Law enforcement has identified a man killed earlier this week when his vehicle struck the side of a moving train in northwest North Dakota. Cole Allen, 62, from Lignite, North Dakota, died at the scene of the crash around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Burke County, the North Dakota Highway Patrol said. ADVERTISEMENT No one on the train was hurt. Allen was driving south in a pickup, five miles west of Flaxton, when the truck drove into an eastbound train at a passive, or non-gated, train crossing, the patrol said. He was wearing a seat belt at the time and road conditions were dry. The Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. WANT TO READ MORE? SUBSCRIBE FOR THESE AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE STORIES Subscribers Only Lifestyle Nearly 70 years later, these school friends still have plenty to talk about Eight women with ties to Fingal, North Dakota, keep making time for laughter, memories and one another. 3d ago · By Tracy Briggs Subscribers Only Lifestyle The real murder behind North Dakota’s White Lady Lane Newspaper archives reveal the real tragedy behind one of North Dakota's most told ghost stories — and it includes a former governor and U.S. senator. Oct 28 · By Tracy Briggs Subscribers Only Lifestyle Briggs: Turns out my husband teaches baseball’s wildest story More than 50 years ago, two New York Yankees pitchers swapped wives and lives. At our house, that’s a chemistry lesson. Oct 21 · By Tracy Briggs Subscribers Only Fargo What are Flock cameras and why have residents unified against them? Experts explain how license plate readers became popular among law enforcement and why people across the political spectrum have come together to oppose the devices. Oct 21 · By April Baumgarten Subscribers Only Fargo Comms department probe took longer than expected, caused frustrations, former Fargo mayor says Tim Mahoney denied that there was a divide between city leadership and administration. He called the communications situation a one-off incident and had hoped for a resolution. Oct 17 · By April Baumgarten Subscribers Only Lifestyle Briggs: I miss paper tickets A no-good, very bad digital ticketing experience has me longing for the stubs in my scrapbook. Oct 14 · By Tracy Briggs Subscribers Only Lifestyle Briggs: How Minnesota schoolkids made Honeycrisp the state fruit Twenty years after their trip to the Capitol, it’s apple season again — and the Honeycrisp still has plenty of fans. Oct 7 · By Tracy Briggs Subscribers Only West Fargo Where are the Flock cameras? Fargo and West Fargo police won't say Fargo and West Fargo are not disclosing the locations of the devices. Minnesota requires law enforcement agencies to make the addresses public. Oct 3 · By April Baumgarten Subscribers Only Lifestyle How North Dakota's 'biggest boy' chose farming over fame A century after his birth, it's important to remember the Walsh County farm boy behind the famous size. Sep 23 · By Tracy Briggs Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags CRASHES ACCIDENTS NORTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL PUBLIC SAFETY By Staff reports Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next North Dakota Fedorchak to continue connecting with North Dakotans in second term 4h ago · By Jordan Rusche North Dakota Is agriculture ‘losing its voice’ in North Dakota's Legislature? Some are concerned 6h ago · By Pamela Knudson North Dakota A growing number of North Dakota students 'waiting for a teacher' 7h ago · By Robin Huebner ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Moorhead How will vacant Moorhead City Council, Moorhead School Board seats be filled? 6h ago · By Ingrid Harbo North Dakota Driver charged in fatal Cass County crash settles Grand Forks cases 18h ago · By Matt Henson Business Sisters developing Kindro app to help users find their chosen family 6h ago · By Stephanie Dickerson Lifestyle What if this winter’s forecast holds true? 5h ago · By Don Kinzler