Man Struck By Train May Have Been Listening to Music

LAKELAND, FL — A serious accident involving a man versus a CSX train Tuesday evening may have involved distraction on the pedestrian’s part.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Sheldon Sharpe, 46, of Lakeland was walking near the tracks on Eastside Drive, south of U.S. 92, around 6 p.m. As Sharpe attempted to cross over the tracks, going around the gates at the intersection, the conductor blew the horn. Heading right at Sharpe was an eastbound locomotive that was pushing a caboose at roughly 8 mph, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

Despite the blaring of the horn, Sharpe was struck by a portion of the train, possibly the caboose itself, the email noted.

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Once the train passed the spot the conductor and engineer last saw Sharpe, they spotted his body on the ground. Several injuries were evident, the sheriff’s office said.

At that point, the train stopped and 911 was called.

Sharpe was taken to Lakeland Regional with critical injuries. He underwent surgery Tuesday night and was last reported in critical, but stable condition.

During the crash investigation, deputies found an MP3 player with a broken earbud wire still attached, the email said.

Sharpe’s fiancée later told detectives that he was walking to the store when the accident happened. He frequently walks, the email said, while listening to music with earbuds in his ears.

The accident remains under investigation with no charges pending at the moment.

A similar accident occurred in Lakeland last March when a 27-year-old woman was walking while texting. She, too, was struck by a train, but managed to escape with fairly minor injuries.