Woman struck, killed by CSX train in Dayton ID’d

A view of the CSX railroad crossing on Chapel Road in Dayton. Courtesy Google

Credit: Google

Credit: Google

A view of the CSX railroad crossing on Chapel Road in Dayton. Courtesy Google

A woman died of her injuries Monday evening after she was struck by a CSX train in Dayton.

She was identified Wednesday afternoon as 39-year-old Elizabeth Ewell by Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger.

Officers were dispatched around 5 p.m. after Ewell was on the tracks when she was struck by the front of the train near the Chapel Street railroad crossing, said Dayton Police Department spokesman James Rider.

Ewell was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased shortly before 6 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.

The crew of the train was not injured, CSX said.

“CSX appreciates the swift response of Montgomery County emergency personnel and extends our thoughts to those impacted by this incident,” the company said, adding, “At CSX, safety is our highest priority in the communities we serve. We remind the public that any activity on or near a rail line can be dangerous.”

Ewell is the second person killed by a train this year in Dayton and the sixth pedestrian killed by a train in local communities since early March, when five people were fatally struck over a five-week period.

Pedestrians die in five Dayton region cities

Five pedestrians died in five local cities after being struck by trains between March 3 and April 8.

  • On March 3 in Fairborn David Sparks, 66, of Fairborn, was lying on the tracks near East Xenia Drive when he was struck by a Norfolk Southern train, according to the Fairborn Police Department report.
  • On March 10 in Middletown James Risner, 51, of Middletown, was found dead next to railroad tracks near Mohawk Street and Waneta Avenue. Authorities believe he likely was struck by a Norfolk Southern train the previous evening, according to the Middletown Police Department report.
  • On March 16 Jennifer Carswell, 42, of Germantown, was struck by a CSX train as she walked near the railroad tracks near Beachler Road and Fairy Lane in Carlisle, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol report.
  • On April 1 Steven W. Flitton, 41, of Dayton, was standing on the tracks when he was truck by a CSX train near North Keowee Street and East Monument Avenue in Dayton, according to the Dayton Police Department report.
  • On April 8 Cynthia Steele, 47, of Tipp City was struck by a CSX train after she walked around lowered crossing arm gates at the West Walnut Street CSX railroad crossing in Tipp City, according to the Tipp City Police Department report.

In all but Risner’s case train crews spotted the victims on or near the tracks before impact. They were unable to stop in time, according to the reports.

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