Photo by Muriel Clark The remains of the tractor.

Photo by Muriel Clark Another view.

Photo by Muriel Clark The train narrowly missed the cab and driver's seat.

A man was hospitalized Friday afternoon when a train destroyed the back half of a farm tractor at a railroad crossing west of Sutherland.

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Justin Christner was driving a Case 225CVT tractor, waiting for a westbound train to pass, investigators said. After the train passed, Christner, 24, drove the tractor south across the tracks and into the path of an approaching eastbound train, which he apparently did not see because the westbound train had obstructed his view, according to investigators.

The eastbound train hit the back of the tractor and pushed it off the train tracks, narrowly missing Christner in the cab.

The wreck occured around 3:45 p.m. near the Keith County line, about seven miles west of Sutherland.

Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies, along with Sutherland Rescue, responded. They found Christner injured but alert. He was taken to Great Plains Regional Medical Center for treatment with multiple injuries but he was in stable condition.

The train crew was not injured in the accident.

The tracks remained open to limited train traffic and Union Pacific Special Agents responded to assist in the investigation. The investigation continues, according to the sheriff.