A Barree man was pronounced dead at the Altoona Regional Health System from injuries received when he was struck by a Norfolk Southern train at approximately 4:40 p.m. Wednesday at the Barree crossing.
State police at Huntingdon identified the victim as Shaun Hannah, 20, who lives in Barree.
Hannah is a native of Tyrone and attended Tyrone Area High School but did not graduate.
Police say Hannah was walking north toward Barree and the railroad crossing control arms were lowered. The train had sounded its horn prior to crossing the intersection, according to police.
Witnesses at the scene told The Daily Herald that the crossing bars were down at the tracks and the train’s whistle was sounding when the young man ducked under the crossing bars and attempted to cross in front of the train.
The train then struck Hannah as he attempted to cross the railroad’s main line.
Alexandria Fire Chief Ken Beck initially reported at the scene that the victim was in very critical condition and was being flown to the Altoona Regional Health System Trauma Center from a landing zone at the Juniata Valley Medical Center.
Robin Chapman, a Norfolk Southern spokesman, told The Daily Herald the accident happened at 4:45 p.m.
“The train consisted of four locomotives and 69 grain cars,” said Chapman in a telephone interview from his Norfolk, Va., office.
He said the unit train originated in Maumee, Ohio, and was heading to Harrisonburg, Va.
Chapman added this warning, “Railroads are a dangerous place to be. It is not easy to tell how fast a train in coming and even pedestrians should obey the crossing gates and flashing lights.”
Assisting police at the scene were the Alexandria and the Petersburg fire companies, the Juniata Valley EMS, Huntingdon EMS and Norfolk Southern employees.
Emergency personnel left the scene at 6:03 p.m.
(Daily News staffer Shelly Carolus contributed information to this report.)
