Amtrak Empire Builder train hits semi-truck, kills driver Donald R. Hedlund, several hurt.

An Amtrak train struck a semitrailer truck that failed to stop at a crossing in central Minnesota, leaving the big rig’s driver dead and several on the passenger train injured, authorities said. The collision involving the eastbound Empire Builder occurred Friday afternoon at the rail crossing at 317th Avenue in Fawn Lake Township, according to the Todd County Sheriff’s Office. Killed was semi driver Donald R. Hedlund Sr., 57, of Bemidji, the Sheriff’s Office said. Hedlund was driving the flatbed truck for Minnesota Limited, of Big Lake, Minn., a pipeline contractor. Two of the 181 passengers on the train and the engineer were injured and taken by ambulance to Lakewood Hospital near Staples, according to Amtrak spokeswoman Christina Lee. One of those passengers returned to the train, while the other remained at the hospital, Lee added. Several other passengers and four train workers were slightly hurt and treated at the scene.