DAWSON COUNTY, Neb. — A tragic collision between a train and a vehicle claimed the lives of a Kearney couple Friday morning, according to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO).
Deputies were dispatched shortly before 8:30 a.m. to the intersection of Road 427 and Highway 30 after reports of a crash involving a train. At the scene, first responders found a white Buick Enclave severely damaged in a ditch just north of the railroad tracks.
Inside the vehicle were 73-year-old Scott Maline, the driver, and his passenger, 71-year-old Kathy Maline. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said the couple had been traveling northbound on Road 427 when their vehicle attempted to cross the railroad tracks at an uncontrolled crossing. At that moment, an empty westbound Union Pacific train struck the SUV, forcing it off the roadway and into the ditch. The crossing had no lights or gates—only signage requiring drivers to stop and yield before crossing.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including the Nebraska State Patrol, Lexington Fire and Rescue, Priority Medical, Union Pacific Railroad personnel, and local towing services. The area remained closed for several hours as investigators worked to document the crash.
The sudden loss of Scott and Kathy Maline has left the Kearney community heartbroken. Well-loved and well-known by those around them, the couple is being remembered not just as victims of a devastating accident but as cherished individuals whose lives touched many.
The DCSO stressed the importance of caution at railroad crossings, particularly those without advanced safety features. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
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