RED CLOUD, Neb. — A train derailment near Amboy on February 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. has shut down Highway 136 in both directions.
According to the Webster County Sheriff's Office, one fatality has been confirmed. At approximately 10 a.m. CT, a vehicle collided with an empty grain train at a crossing, derailing ten cars. The train crew was unharmed, but the vehicle's occupant, identified as 24-year-old Andrew Katzberg, died at the scene. Authorities confirmed next of kin have been notified.
The hay grinder was traveling eastbound when it struck the train, resulting in multiple rail cars derailing. Highway 136 was closed from Red Cloud to Guide Rock until approximately 3:00 a.m. on February 20, 2026, but has since reopened.
Nebraska 511 issued an alert regarding the blockage at mile marker 79, advising motorists to find alternate routes. An update from the Nebraska Department of Transportation at 11:26 a.m. CST indicated all lanes were closed between mile markers 77 and 80, roughly four miles east of Red Cloud.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Webster County Sheriff's Office leading the inquiry. Assistance is provided by the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Department of Roads, and BNSF railroad personnel. The cause of the derailment remains undetermined.