Man struck, killed by train

WILMINGTON, Ohio (WNJ) - By ANDREA L. CHAFFIN, achaffin@wnewsj.com

From our partners at the Wilmington News Journal: A young Wilmington man was struck and killed by a train near Wilmington Iron & Metal on South South Street in Wilmington late Wednesday afternoon, Wilmington acting Chief of Police Duane Weyand reported.

The victim was reliably identified to the News Journal by family late Wednesday as 19-year-old Steven Lemmings of Wilmington.

About 10 p.m. Wednesday, city police said the man was killed on the railroad tracks between Clinton Builders and Wilmington Iron & Metal.

Weyand said the man reportedly was walking south between the train tracks when the engineer saw him about a half mile away before the impact took place.

The engineer reportedly sounded the train whistle multiple times to gain Lemmings’ attention, but he failed to move away from the tracks. The train, like Lemmings, was traveling south, and was not able to stop in time and struck him.

Lemmings was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was alone, Weyand said.

Family said Lemmings may have been walking to a relative’s residence.

Family members say he may have been wearing headphones at the time he was struck.

The train was hauling wood and tank products and there was no reported damage to the train or cargo.

It was able to stop shortly after striking the man, Weyand said.

The train is owned by Indiana Ohio Railroad Company.

Alcohol and drugs are not suspected, but the body has been taken to the Miami Valley Crime Lab for an autopsy, Weyand said.

The occupants of the train were not injured, Weyand said.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Staff writer Gary Huffenberger contributed to this report.