The National Transportation Safety Board is probing the July 9 death of a Norfolk Southern Railway conductor, who was killed when he was struck by a passing freight train while on the ground near Whiting, Indiana, officials said.
The death occurred about 3:44 a.m. on Norfolk Southern’s Chicago Line when the conductor of eastbound freight train 256B309 was struck by westbound freight train 61WB308. Train 256 was stopped on a main track at a signal while train 61W approached on an adjacent track.
According to the NTSB, the conductor had exited the lead locomotive to perform a visual inspection of the passing train. Shortly before the collision, the conductor crossed the adjacent track and entered the path of train 61W.
The engineer of train 61W saw the conductor on the track as the train approached. Event recorder data reviewed by investigators showed the engineer began sounding the horn when the train was about 750 feet away.
The train struck the conductor approximately three seconds later while traveling about 29 mph.
The mishap occurred in darkness under clear weather conditions. The rail corridor consists of three parallel main tracks.
The NTSB said all aspects of the accident remain under investigation and that it will determine the probable cause and may issue safety recommendations intended to prevent similar accidents. The investigation includes participation from the Federal Railroad Administration, Norfolk Southern, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.
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