A 56 year old rural Scottsbluff man has been identified as the victim in a fatal train-pickup accident Saturday two miles east of Mitchell. Scotts Bluff County Attorney Tiffany Wasserburger says Michael Carlson died in the accident that occurred at a rail crossing adjacent to Spring Creek Road.

Sheriff's Deputy Troy Brown says the accident happened when Carlson's older model GMC pickup turned off Spring Creek Road and headed south on Cook River Road. It was hit by a westbound Burlington Northern-Santa Fe freight train.

Carlson was the only passenger in the pickup, which slid into a low lying area southwest of the crossing. Carlson was not ejected from the vehicle. The crossing did have "crossbuck signs, but no lights or gate arms.

The accident happened shortly before noon.