A freight train fatally struck a pedestrian in northwestern Minnesota at night over the weekend, a rail official said Sunday.

The train operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe hit the person about 9 p.m. Saturday in Detroit Lakes at the Washington Avenue crossing, BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said Sunday.

The name of the victim, a 56-year-old woman, and the circumstances leading up to the incident just east of the Amtrak station have yet to be released. The train was on tracks that run alongside Hwy. 10.

Train traffic in that area was halted as officials responded to the scene until shortly after midnight, McBeth said.