Norfolk Southern Train Kills Pedestrian in Fleetwood, PA

June 1st, 2010 |

FLEETWOOD, PA – A 19 year old Fleetwood resident was struck and killed at a railway crossing in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania by a Norfolk Southern train on May 25, 2010.

View of rail crossing at West Locust Street and South Richmond Street in Fleetwood, Pennsylanvia near the F.M. Brown’s Sons Inc. flour and feed mill silos.

The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, just west of the Main Street and Richmond Street railroad crossing near South Chestnut Street. The victim was identified as Ian Sanders, 19 years old, of South Franklin Street in Fleetwood.

Fleetwood is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the eastern part of the state about 12 miles northeast of Reading, 61 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 270 miles due east of Pittsburgh, about 32 miles southwest of Bethlehem, 93 miles south of Scranton, about 324 miles southeast of Erie and about 25 miles southwest of Allentown.

norfolk-southern-train-kills-pedestrian-map

Location of fatal accident where a pedestrian was killed while crossing the tracks in Fleetwood, PA near the rail crossing at Richmond Street.

The incident was a tragedy for local residents. An article on the incident plus a video interviewing local residents can be found at the Berksmont News website.

Sanders died at the scene at 5:57 p.m. Berks County Coroner Ron Peters ruled his death as an accident resulting from blunt force trauma.

According to Patrolman Dale Ulshafer, the victim was first struck by the westbound train and then thrown about 128 feet from the tracks. Sanders’ body landed behind the silos of F.M. Brown’s Sons Inc. flour and feed mill.

View of the tracks behind the F.M. Brown's Sons Inc. flour and feed mill silos where Sanders' body was found near the rail crossing at Richmond Street.

Although there were no witnesses there were reports that the train was traveling at about 50-miles-per hour when the tragedy occurred. After the incident, the train came to a stop.

Below is a Google street view of the rail crossing at Richmond Street that clearly shows the silos of F.M. Brown’s Sons Inc. flour and feed mill. You can click the mouse and drag it around to get a full 360° view of the scene of the mishap.

View Larger Map

According to Patrolman Ulshafer, a worker discovered Sanders on his way home from F.M. Brown’s. His body was found at the 100 block of Main Street.

Ulshafer also pointed out that juveniles frequently cross at this location to get to Turkey Hill. He noted that the closest railroad crossing was at Richmond Street but that the incident occurred closer to South Chestnut Street.

According to Ulshafer, everything indicated that the incident was an accident and that no one knows why he stepped out in front of the train.

Published by fela lawyers Gordon &amp Elias, LLP