A man was fatally struck by a Norfolk Southern freight train on Friday night in Annville.
The incident occurred sometime around 10pm Friday at North Lancaster Street and West Summit Street.
The deceased was described by Annville Township Police Department Chief Bernard Dugan as a male 40-60 years old. Dugan said that it appears the man intentionally put himself in the path of the train.
ABC 27 reports that the impact occurred just after 9:45pm, with Annville police responding within the hour. This location on the tracks is not a grade crossing, and as depicted in this photography by WGAL 8, the tracks sit below an embankment.
“The eastbound train (train 38G) was en route from Conway to Abrams, Pennsylvania, when the incident occurred,” said Rachel McDonnell Bradshaw, a spokesperson for Norfolk Southern.
According to a release, the Annville-Cleona Fire District, Cleona Police, Cornwall Borough Police, North Lebanon Township Police, and Norfolk Southern assisted in the initial response. The incident is under continued investigation by Annville Township Police and the Lebanon County Coroner.
“At Norfolk Southern, the safety of our employees and the communities we serve is our number one priority,” said Bradshaw. “Norfolk Southern reminds the public that it is extremely dangerous, and also trespassing, to walk on or within the right-of-way of railroad tracks.”
“People should cross tracks only at designated crossings and use extreme caution at all times.”
LebTown will update this post when we learn more, although in accordance with our policy on naming victims we do not intend to release the identity of the deceased unless it is explicitly provided to us by the family.
Help is available. There are resources to help you feel better. If you are in crisis, get help immediately. Call Lebanon County Crisis Intervention at 717-274-3363 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, and see here for veteran-specific resources.
This article has been updated with comment from Norfolk Southern.