Albert Lea woman killed by train in western Wisconsin

A 70-year-old Minnesota woman was struck and killed by a train Saturday afternoon in western Wisconsin, according to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a report of a pedestrian who was struck by a train around 12:23 p.m. train near the 300 block of South Main Street in Alma, Wisconsin, the sheriff’s office stated.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they found Linda Sanden, 70, of Albert Lea, along the railroad tracks with fatal injuries.

According to initial investigation, Sanden was getting ready to go fishing with a family member and was carrying fishing gear across the tracks.

An eastbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was nearing the area, and the crew saw Sanden on the tracks, the sheriff’s office stated. The crew members tried to warn Sanden and attempted to stop the train, but they were unable to avoid hitting her.