Man hit by train, medflighted

A 22-year-old Prairie du Chien man was hit by a train at the Blackhawk Avenue railroad crossing early Saturday morning, according to the Prairie du Chien Police Department.

Officers responded to the scene at about 1:20 a.m. Saturday, April 18, to find that a southbound Burlington Northern train had struck Daniel M. Gillitzer, who had been walking east on Blackhawk Avenue. From the initial investigation, officers learned that the train had been traveling at a reduced speed after conducting a crew change about a mile and a half from the scene of the accident.

Gillitzer was transported to Crossing Rivers Health by Tri-State Ambulance and later flown to Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse by Medlink Air, according to the police department.

The incident remains under investigation. Police Chief Chad Abram said he was meeting with Burlington Northern officials Monday morning.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Prairie du Chien Street Department and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.

The police department believes, based on train crew statements, that an adult male was with the victim just prior to the collision. The police department would like anyone who witnessed this to call the police department at 326-2421.