Tragedy once again struck at the Simmons railroad crossing Friday, when Long County resident Evelyn Hale, 62, was struck by a train at about 5:40 a.m.
According to Roger Crupper, engineer of the CSX train that struck Hale, he was proceeding south on the tracks at 45-50 mph when he saw a woman standing on the edge of the tracks facing the wood line.
As he approached the woman, he blew the train horn to warn her but she did not leave the tracks.
The train struck Hale on the right side of her head and her body, knocking her about 50 feet from the point of impact.
Crupper was unable to stop the train until it had traveled about a mile past the location of the incident.
The Long County Sheriff’s Department was notified, and further investigation revealed a 1993 Chevrolet Blazer had been parked off Highway 84 at the Mount Sinai Church.
Footprints seen near the vehicle appeared to head toward the railroad tracks where Hale had been standing.
According to an incident report filed by sheriff’s deputy Julius W. Bargeron, the prints matched shoes found at the site of the incident.
According to Sheriff Cecil Nobles, the matter is still under investigation. CSX Railroad is also conducting its own investigation.
This is the second train fatality of the year at this location. A Long County employee Roy Baxter was also killed April 9 when the motor grader he was operating proceeded through the tracks and was struck by a train.
“Something like this happening is a real tragedy for both families; in my 38 years of being sheriff, this is the first time two train-related deaths have ever taken place,” Nobles said.
According to Roger Crupper, engineer of the CSX train that struck Hale, he was proceeding south on the tracks at 45-50 mph when he saw a woman standing on the edge of the tracks facing the wood line.
As he approached the woman, he blew the train horn to warn her but she did not leave the tracks.
The train struck Hale on the right side of her head and her body, knocking her about 50 feet from the point of impact.
Crupper was unable to stop the train until it had traveled about a mile past the location of the incident.
The Long County Sheriff’s Department was notified, and further investigation revealed a 1993 Chevrolet Blazer had been parked off Highway 84 at the Mount Sinai Church.
Footprints seen near the vehicle appeared to head toward the railroad tracks where Hale had been standing.
According to an incident report filed by sheriff’s deputy Julius W. Bargeron, the prints matched shoes found at the site of the incident.
According to Sheriff Cecil Nobles, the matter is still under investigation. CSX Railroad is also conducting its own investigation.
This is the second train fatality of the year at this location. A Long County employee Roy Baxter was also killed April 9 when the motor grader he was operating proceeded through the tracks and was struck by a train.
“Something like this happening is a real tragedy for both families; in my 38 years of being sheriff, this is the first time two train-related deaths have ever taken place,” Nobles said.