September 5, 2023 - The Center Police Department is investigating a train versus pedestrian incident which resulted in a fatality and took place Sunday, September 3, 2023.
According to the Center Police Department, at approximately 2:15am, units were dispatched to the intersection of Florence Street and Martin Luther King Drive at the railroad tracks when it was reported an individual had been struck by a train.
When officers arrived on scene, they observed a deceased male subject laying on the railroad tracks. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was notified and Detective John Cleavenger responded to the location. The BNSF conductor notified his supervisor and BNSF sent their own law enforcement personnel and liaisons to the scene.
Ambulance personnel responded to the location, unfortunately due to the injuries sustained to the victim being fatal, no life saving measures were performed.
The BNSF train conductor reported to officers the individual was seen lying on the track and the train was traveling approximately 19 mph when the emergency brake was applied. Unfortunately, the train was unable to stop before striking the victim.
Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, performed the inquest and an autopsy has been ordered. Mangum Funeral Home transported the victim from the scene.
The incident remains under investigation, and no foul play has been discovered at the time of this report. The individual was initially unidentified; however, an identity has been determined. The identity has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
Further information was requested of BNSF by Shelby County Today, but they have not yet responded as of publication.
