Man Dies After Walking Into Path Of Train In West Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC -- A 56 year-old man was struck and killed by a CSX train after walking into its path Monday morning in west Charlotte, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, who say the pedestrian was under the influence of alcohol.

According to a CMPD police report, evidence suggests the man, who police identified as Richard Darryl Brown, was standing on a sidewalk near the track around 9:30 a.m. along South Hoskins Road at Rozzelles Ferry Road when the crossing arms lowered and began flashing for the train.

Brown then walked around the lowered crossing arms onto the track and into the path of the freight train, which had slowed down to about 12 miles per hour by the point of impact, police said.

“Video from CSX train # 527 observed the locomotive sounding the horn and bell for a long period of time as the engineer approached the railroad crossing,” the CMPD report of the Jan. 22 incident said. “As the engineer observed the pedestrian walking across the tracks the pedestrian continued walking in the path of the train.”

The CSX train engineer brought the train to a stop by placing it in emergency stop mode. Police said they believe Brown was impaired by alcohol and that it was a contributing factor in the incident.

This story has been updated.

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