Man killed after being hit by train in Florence
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A person was killed early Wednesday morning after being struck by an Amtrak passenger train, Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken said.
It happened about 3:30 a.m. near the Southpark Shopping Center crossing. Von Lutcken said the person is presumed to be homeless, and his identity was not immediately known.
Train 97 was traveling from New York to Miami when it struck the person, Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said. There were 162 people on board, and no injuries to anyone else were reported.
Amtrak said its working with the Florence Police Department to investigate the incident.
“Preventing accidents and fatalities on the railroad is a priority for Amtrak,” Woods said.
The Federal Railroad Administration says trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America.
“These incidents can affect everyone involved — those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews and our passengers. They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and grade crossings,” Woods said.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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