Two Pillager residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries when the car they were driving was struck by a BNSF Railway train at a crossing Sunday.
The Minnesota State Patrol released the names Monday.
Donald Bolster, 86, and his wife, Mary Bolster, 85, were transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The Bolsters were traveling north on West Gull River Road and were struck broadside behind the driver's seat by the eastbound BNSF train. The 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis was heavily damaged. The force of the impact spun the vehicle and it landed in a ditch.
Neil Pede, 25, Foxboro, Wis., who was behind the controls on the freight train, was not reported injured. The railroad crossing is marked and has a stop sign for automobiles, but does not have active warning devices of stop arms and lights.
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The crash was reported at 5:20 p.m. Sunday. The freight train had nine cars. The train was cleared to leave the crash scene about 9:20 p.m.
