compiled by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A disturbing, baffling death occurred at a railroad crossing the early morning of July 15 just north of Sartell in Sauk Rapids Township.
Killed was Dale John Fries, 54, Sauk Rapids. The man’s family said the shocking death may have been a result of Fries suffering from multiple sclerosis, which made it very difficult for him to walk and may have caused him to become disoriented at the accident scene.
According to a report by Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck, the death occurred at 5:30 a.m. after Fries, whose car had apparently become stuck on one of the two tracks walked onto the other track when he was struck and killed by a northbound train.
The rail crossing, at Benton County Drive and Northeast River Road (55), had been closed for improvement work on it. However, according to the accident report, Fries drove his vehicle around the barriers when it became stuck on the west railroad track.
Two witnesses, who were on the train, said they saw the man walk onto the other railroad track, the eastern one, just before he was struck and killed.
The sheriff’s report states that the train brakes were applied as soon as the stuck car appeared up ahead at the intersection. The train’s shrill horn also pierced the air, and red lights were flashing and bells were clanging at the intersection. What has not been explained, yet anyway, is why Fries did not heed the warnings. The witnesses said he was standing by his vehicle’s driver’s door when he suddenly walked onto the east track just before being struck by the train’s locomotive.
Fries’ car was not struck by the train.
The accident remains under investigation.
In the past month, alterations were made to that intersection because it had been designated a “Quiet Zone” where trains should not blow their horn unless there is an impending emergency on the tracks up ahead.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by members of the Sartell Police Department.
Fries was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Blaine. After graduating from Blaine High School in 1981, he enrolled at St. Cloud State University, earning an engineering degree in 1986. He worked for many years as an engineer at production facilities in the Monticello area.
Fries was a gymnastics coach and began his coaching career at St. Cloud Tech High School, then Maple Lake and Sauk Rapids. His wife was also a gymnastics coach.
Besides coaching, Fries also loved hunting, fishing, kayaking, planting trees and baseball.
Fries is survived by wife Christie and their son, Tyler of Butte, Mont., as well as many other relatives.
A memorial service for Fries was held July 19 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids.
Dale John Fries
