Men saved by Pierce County sheriff's deputy from train. Update: Similar accident at same site happened over 60 years ago

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DIAMOND BLUFF - A Pierce County deputy moved two men to safety shortly before a northbound Burlington Northern train struck their car Sunday evening.

The Sheriff's Department was notified Sunday evening that a vehicle was stuck on the train tracks in Diamond Bluff.

The deputy arrived on the scene and moved the occupants - Daniel J. Roth, 24, and Matthew M. Luostari, 23, both of Prescott -- to safety shortly before the train hit the car.

No injuries were reported by the two men or the train crew. However, Roth was arrested for an OWI and taken to the Pierce County Jail in Ellsworth. He was later released.

The incident occurred at the railroad crossing at 985th Street and Hwy. 35 in Diamond Bluff. The Red Wing Fire Department assisted at the scene.

This railroad intersection was the scene of a similar car-train collision back in 1947. On April 7, a car driven by John Albarado with passengers Johnny Albarado and Herbert Enney, was struck by the old Burlington Zephyr at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. Enney was taken to Red Wing Hosiptal but only had bumps and bruises while both Alaborados were able to leap from the vehicle before the train sheared it in two, hurling the back end of the car 100 feet from the tracks.

This information was brought to the Herald's attention by a reader who got it out of the Herald's archives in River Falls.

Tags: diamond bluff, local news, news, accident