Executive Summary
- Victim identified as 35-year-old Raihna Mathews of Cosmos.
- Incident occurred at the Meeker County Road 1 railroad crossing.
- Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and BNSF Railway are investigating.
LITCHFIELD, Minn. – A 35-year-old woman was struck and killed by a westbound train in Meeker County on Monday afternoon, according to the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities reported that the incident occurred just after 12:30 p.m. at the railroad crossing located on Meeker County Road 1 in Litchfield Township. Responding deputies found the victim, identified as Raihna Mathews of Cosmos, deceased at the scene.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, preliminary findings indicate that Mathews was walking on the railroad tracks when she was struck by the train. Personnel from the BNSF Railway, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Litchfield Police, and Litchfield Rescue assisted deputies during the initial response.
Investigative Outlook
The investigation is being led by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with BNSF Railway officials to determine the precise circumstances leading to the collision. As is standard in railroad fatalities involving pedestrians, authorities are expected to review right-of-way protocols and environmental factors at the crossing, though current reports suggest the victim was present on the tracks prior to impact.
