The 38-year old Brainerd man struck and killed by a BNSF Railway train during the early morning hours Wednesday, July 11, near Southeast 13th Street in Brainerd was identified as Michael Todd Koering.
Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston released the identity of the man Friday.
Brainerd police officers were stopped at a railroad crossing for an eastbound train when the train made an abrupt stop at about 2:30 a.m. Officers continued east, finding the front of the BNSF train east of the crossing at Southeast 13th Street in Brainerd.
Officers met with the train operator and learned Koering was observed near the crossing at that intersection. The operator said Koering then went onto the tracks directly in front of the moving train. The train operator immediately applied the brakes; however, the man was struck by the train, police reported. Officers located Koering, who appeared to have been killed instantly by the impact of the train. His body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office.
