HUBBARD COUNTY, Minn. — A quiet rural road west of Cass Lake turned into a heartbreak scene Friday morning when a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train struck an SUV carrying Douglas Stewart, 61, and his wife, Tiffany Stewart, 42. Both died at the scene in what friends and neighbors are calling an unthinkable loss for the north-central Minnesota community.
It was just before 10 a.m. on January 30, 2026, when the train conductor made a frantic 911 call reporting the collision at the Hubbard County Road 101 crossing in Farden Township, a few miles west of Cass Lake. Deputies and emergency medical crews rushed to the tracks but found both occupants of the SUV had already died.
According to the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas Stewart was driving the couple’s 2016 Dodge Journey southbound on County Road 101. The SUV stopped at a stop sign near the railroad crossing, then pulled forward into the path of the oncoming train. The westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train struck the vehicle with devastating force, killing both Douglas and Tiffany at the scene.
The train conductor, identified as 36-year-old Lee Silcox of Kempton, North Dakota, was unharmed and reported the crash immediately. Investigators are still piecing together exactly why the SUV entered the train’s path just moments before impact. A full investigation by the Sheriff’s Office remains underway.
Locals described Douglas and Tiffany as warm, devoted partners who loved their community and family deeply. Their loss has shocked neighbors and friends in Cass Lake and beyond, drawing an outpouring of condolences on social media and in local gathering places. People who knew them remember the Stewarts for their steady kindness and easy-going spirit.
For many here, the tragedy is a reminder of how suddenly life can change on rural roads that feel familiar and safe. Friends say they’re holding onto memories of laughter, generosity, and the way the Stewarts treated everyone they met with genuine care.
In the days ahead, family, friends, and community members are expected to gather to remember the couple, share stories, and support one another through grief. The crossing where the crash occurred remains under review as officials work to understand what happened and whether additional safety measures are needed.
