Williamsburg man killed by train

 A Williamsburg man died early Friday evening when he was struck by a CSX train.

About 5:50 pm., Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced Jason L. Moses, 36, of Raintree Street Apartments, dead at the scene from multiple injuries sustained when he was hit by a train.

He died instantly. The body will be sent Saturday to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for autopsy, Croley said.

The accident happened at the railroad crossing near Second and Elm streets behind the University of the Cumberlands’ main campus.

Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird said that the victim walked in front of the train.

“The conductor thought he was either going to cross or go back, but instead he just turned his back to the train and continued walking in the dead center of the tracks,” Bird noted.

The conductor of the train saw him and blew the horn, but the victim was wearing headphones.

The conductor threw on the emergency brake but Bird estimated it took him nearly a half-mile to stop the train, which isn’t surprising given the weight and mass of the train.

“It takes those things a while to stop,” Bird said. “The conductor did everything he could do.”

The collision knocked the victim about 40 – 50 feet from the point of impact.

Bird said police would watch video from the train Monday but anticipate filing no charges.

Williamsburg police and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office investigated the accident.

Williamsburg Fire and Rescue, Whitley County EMS, Kentucky State Police and CSX investigators assisted at the scene.