On 1/30/17 at 7:52 a.m., the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office investigated a property damage accident involving a semi and the railroad stop arm on the south edge of Merrill on Highway 75. The semi was a 2015 Volvo Semi and grain trailer operated by Robert Bennett, age 67 of Howells, NE. Bennett was northbound on Highway 75 and struck the stop arm that was partially down. Damage was caused to the windshield and mirrors of the truck making it inoperable. BNSF was called to the scene to fix the stop arm. No citations were issued due to the stop arm allegedly malfunctioning.