PAINESVILLE, Ohio — A young life is now gone too soon; Painesville Police Department confirmed the death of a 10-year-old boy killed by a train while he was riding his bike Wednesday night.
“It’s devastating,” said Councilperson Jim Fodor. “It takes your breath away.”
Like Fodor, Jacob Tidd tells News 5 he too feels sorry for the family. Tidd lives just a few houses down from the CSX Railroad Track Crossing at Elm Street and recalls the moments before the accident happened.
“I was watching TV, and I heard the train blowing its whistle, and nothing unusual,” said Tidd.
Then all of sudden, Tidd heard a concerning sound.
“I heard the train hit its break,” said Tidd. “I heard the metal grinding.”
Tidd later discovered officers found the 10-year-old unresponsive.
Officers say the boy was hit by the train while trying to cross the tracks on his bike.
Emergency crews rushed the boy to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries, leaving both Fodor and fellow councilperson Derrick Abney heartbroken.
“We’re going through a moment right now where we are grieving,” said Councilperson Derrick Abney.
Abney admits kids in the area have been known to play near the tracks, but he and Fodor urge parents to use this tragic situation as a warning.
“Whatever age it is, you have to take things seriously, and it’s only in a brief moment that life can take a very drastic turn,” said Fodor.
“There’s so many different things that have to happen now since this has happened, we can now connect the dots to maybe some other things that we could be missing for the children over here that the investigation is going to bring up,” said Abney.
Painesville City Local Schools didn’t want to comment on this situation yet, but they did tell News 5 they are offering support to staff and students.
In the meantime, this investigation is still underway.
CSX Transportation released this statement:
CSX extends its deepest sympathies to everyone impacted by this tragic incident, and we will work on scene to support local law enforcement as they investigate. There were no reported injuries to the crew.
His identity has not been released.
The family has created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for memorial expenses.
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