By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Teen hit, killed by train
Man killed by Amtrack Train
LCSD Deputy Wade Long paints an outline around the body Steffen Busser after he was struck by an Amtrack train Monday night in Walthourville. - photo by Photo by Lewis Levine

trainvictim

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

A 16-year-old boy was killed Monday night in Walthourville when he tried to run across a railroad track in front of an Amtrak train on Talmadge Road, near city hall.
According to Georgia State Patrol Trooper J.A. Lewis, witnesses said Steffen Busser of Walthourville had been jogging in the center lane of Talmadge Road shortly after 8:30 p.m. A woman who was waiting at the railroad crossing for the train to pass told Lewis the teen had been running north toward Highway 84 and stepped around the crossing guard arms, which were down.
The teen looked left and saw the train which had been heading north to Washington, DC, from Sanford, Fla. The woman said the teen seemed to hesitate for a moment and then bolted across the tracks.
As he crossed the train struck him on the front left throwing him about 190 feet.
One youth’s sneakers was knocked from his feet and found about 50 feet from where he landed. The other sneaker was found lodged under the engine and later recovered.
Lewis said the teen was killed instantly upon impact with the train, which had been traveling 70 mph, according to the train’s engineer Ken Lamy.
There were about 500 passengers on the train. And it was delayed for about two hours while troopers investigated the accident.
The teen’s body was taken to the GBI crime lab where an autopsy was conducted Tuesday morning.
Sign up for our e-newsletters