A freight train fatally struck a man on the tracks early Wednesday in rural stretch of central Minnesota, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 3:15 a.m. near Hwy. 10 and 60th Avenue in Cushing Township, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Office.

Kyle Schiltz, 35, of nearby Sauk Centre, was declared dead at the scene after the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train hit him roughly 12 miles northwest of Little Falls, the Sheriff's Office said.

"The person was on the railroad tracks, not at a crossing," said railway spokeswoman Amy McBeth.