The reason for the high speed of the #27 was unknown, but it ultimately contributed to the head-on collision of the two trains, as the Empire Builder was unable to side before being struck by the fast-approaching Western Star.

[11][1]: 1,7 The Western Star train was crewed by Bernard "Barney" L. Runyan, Engineer; Dick Parks, Conductor; Roger Hardy, Fireman; and Bruce Pfrimmer, Head Brakeman.

[2][12] Ruben Halverson, an employee of Great Northern in Chester, got a call on the radio from someone in the crashed business car, perhaps President Budd, alerting him to the wreck; he sounded the fire alarm and notified the emergency personnel.

[13] Paul F. Cruikshank, a spokesman for the railway company in Spokane, Washington asserted the same day of the accident that the westbound train driven by Runyan "went through red signals".

[17] This dilemma resulted from the testimony of multiple witnesses who said that the signal at the east end of the siding was green, indicating to Engineer Runyan that the track ahead was clear.

The signal for this train was verified after the accident to be red over yellow, indicating that the Havre dispatcher had centrally triggered the switch to allow the Empire Builder to enter the siding.

[16] Several witnesses present at the accident claimed immediately after the wreck that Runyan's signal at the east end of the Buelow switch was green when it should have been yellow.

[1]: 3  The Western Star was on a "make-up schedule", trying to regain time it lost over the weekend due to a historic blizzard that hit the Northern Plains, delaying it in Breckenridge, Minnesota.

[9][19] Despite the long and hurried trip, Runyan had alighted the Western Star in Havre and had been off duty for two days prior to starting his drive from that point in the interstate journey.

Before leaving Havre, he told Hardy, the fireman onboard who was the most seriously injured survivor, that he was well rested;[12] Runyan was also aware that the Empire Builder was due in the eastbound direction and had not been overtaken.

[12] All of these factors make the notion that the wreck was due to operator error questionable in light of eyewitness accounts saying the signal at the east end of the switch was green.