2 die in Iowa freight train collision

MCPHERSON, Iowa, April 17 (UPI) -- Two railway workers were killed Sunday morning when two trains collided in southwestern Iowa, an official with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe said.

Spokesman Gus Melonas told KETV in Omaha, Neb., that a coal train rear-ended one carrying maintenance equipment around 7 a.m. in McPherson.

The conductor and engineer, the only crew aboard the coal train, were killed, but the two workers on the other train were unhurt.

Melonas said initial reports were that 10 cars on the maintenance train derailed along with one locomotive on the coal train.

He said the tracks, normally used by about 40 freight trains daily, have been shut while the crash is investigated.