SYRACUSE, Neb. (Oct. 2, 2025) — A freight train derailed Thursday morning south of Syracuse following a collision with a semi-truck, splitting the trailer in two and prompting road closures and an investigation.
The crash occurred around 9:15 a.m., near Frontier Cooperative, when a semi-tractor trailer carrying corn attempted to cross railroad tracks on K Road, east of Highway 50.
As the train was backing up, it struck the trailer — pushing it roughly 100 feet down the track and tearing the semi-trailer apart.
The driver was able to exit the vehicle safely and was not seriously injured, according to authorities.
The derailment caused at least one boxcar to leave the rails. The incident has forced closures of K Road between Highway 50 and Angle Road as crews and investigators respond to the scene.
Union Pacific is expected to lead the investigation into the derailment and collision. Authorities have not yet released a detailed cause, but initial reports suggest the semi may not have cleared the track before the train reversed.
This crash is part of a series of similar incidents reported around the region this morning. Earlier Thursday, a semi truck collided with a parked train west of Grand Island, derailing Union Pacific cars.
Officials have not yet provided a timeline for reopening the affected road or restoring full rail service.