EAST PEORIA, Ill. —
A train hit an East Peoria man Tuesday, killing the unsuspecting man as he was walking to work with his MP3 player on and his hood over his ears, according to Tazewell County Coroner Dennis Conover.
Karl A. Heskett, 32, reportedly was walking down the middle of the train tracks on his way to work when he was struck from behind by the train near Farmdale Road, Conover said. According to a statement released by Conover, Heskett was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:05 p.m. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m.
Conover said he spoke to a friend of Heskett’s who said Heskett usually took that same route to work and played music from his MP3 player during the walk. Conover said Heskett also had his hood over his head to bundle up in the cold weather. He said he does not think Heskett knew the train was closing in on him despite the train crew blowing the whistle. He said witnesses did not see Heskett physically respond in any way to the presence of the oncoming train.
“We still don’t know exactly what happened,” Conover said. “It’s still under investigation. According to the people on the train, he didn’t turn around and didn’t know the train was close to him.”
Heskett was killed by the impact “virtually instantly,” he added.
An autopsy is scheduled for today, according to Conover. In his statement, he said the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department investigators, Illinois State Police crime scene technicians and Norfolk Southern Railroad security officers are working with the coroner’s office to investigate the incident. East Peoria Fire and Rescue also was on the scene.
An inquest into Heskett’s death will be scheduled at a later date.
Story provided by: pekintimes.com
Karl A. Heskett, 32, reportedly was walking down the middle of the train tracks on his way to work when he was struck from behind by the train near Farmdale Road, Conover said. According to a statement released by Conover, Heskett was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:05 p.m. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m.
Conover said he spoke to a friend of Heskett’s who said Heskett usually took that same route to work and played music from his MP3 player during the walk. Conover said Heskett also had his hood over his head to bundle up in the cold weather. He said he does not think Heskett knew the train was closing in on him despite the train crew blowing the whistle. He said witnesses did not see Heskett physically respond in any way to the presence of the oncoming train.
“We still don’t know exactly what happened,” Conover said. “It’s still under investigation. According to the people on the train, he didn’t turn around and didn’t know the train was close to him.”
Heskett was killed by the impact “virtually instantly,” he added.
An autopsy is scheduled for today, according to Conover. In his statement, he said the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department investigators, Illinois State Police crime scene technicians and Norfolk Southern Railroad security officers are working with the coroner’s office to investigate the incident. East Peoria Fire and Rescue also was on the scene.
An inquest into Heskett’s death will be scheduled at a later date.
Story provided by: pekintimes.com
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