Child killed when struck by train

Tim Leeds Havre Daily News [email protected]

A young Havre child was killed when he was struck by a train on the railroad tracks near Rudyard Saturday. Hill County Sheriff and Coroner Don Brostrom this morning confirmed that Colby Cole Hawley, 3½, died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway freight train. Colby, the son of Lisa Hawley of Havre, was visiting relatives in Rudyard at the time, according to the obituary submitted by his family through Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester. A graveside service is scheduled Wednesday north of Rudyard. Gus Melonas of Burlington Northern Santa Fe told The Associated Press that the train was en route from Minneapolis to Pasco, Wash. He said train crew threw the emergency brake and sounded a whistle upon seeing the boy on the tracks less than a mile west of a railroad crossing in town. Melonas could not be reached for further comment this morning. Brostrom said his deputies investigated the incident over the weekend, and the report will be forwarded to the Hill County Attorney's Office to determine if further investigation will be needed or if any charges would be filed. Brostrom said his office's report will be sent to The attorney's office today and that he expects reports from the Montana Highway Patrol, which also investigated the incident, also will be turned over to the county attorney. Brostrom declined to make any further comments. According to the Hill County Sheriff's Office log for the weekend, deputies responded to Rudyard at 10:34 a.m. Saturday for a “medical emergency.” No further information was available.