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Man who crawled under stopped train in Winona killed when it starts moving

February 20, 2016 at 3:20AM

A man who crawled under a stationary train Friday morning in Winona, Minn., died when he was hit by the train's wheels when it started moving, police said.

The man identified as 63-year-old Randolph Tofstad by authorities was walking on S. Baker Street around 1:55 a.m. when he encountered the train. He attempted to cross the tracks by going under the train, which had stopped to drop off cars, said Winona Police Chief Paul Bostrack.

He was hit by a wheel and died at the scene when the southbound Canadian Pacific train began moving, Bostrack said. Safety arms were down when the incident happened, police said.

Police say Tofstad's death appears to be accidental, but witnesses who had been in contact with Tofstad told police that alcohol might have been a factor.

Tofstad is the second person killed at a Winona train crossing since last month. A 25-year-old man tripped and fell on some tracks Jan. 17 and was hit by a train.

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about the writer

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.

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