Emporia Police have released the name of the individual killed in a train/pedestrian accident Thursday afternoon.
According to Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas, 85-year-old John Speece was crossing the railroad tracks on Commerical Street heading south when he was struck by an eastbound train just before 3 pm. Speece was pronounced dead shortly after the arrival of Emporia Fire, EMS and Emporia Police at the scene.
Police say Speece was using a walker and police believe this may have played a “major factor” in the cause of the accident, however, exact details have not been announced. Crossings from Constitution east to Cottonwood were closed for about two hours after the incident.
500 am Friday: UPDATE: Details pending after Thursday’s fatal train-pedestrian incident in downtown Emporia
Several details are still pending after a fatal train-pedestrian incident in downtown Emporia on Thursday.
The incident was reported around 3 pm at the Commercial Street Crossing. A man was pronounced dead shortly after Emporia Fire/EMS and Emporia Police arrived at that location.
Police Capt. Ray Mattas says no additional information about the incident will be divulged until the next of kin notification process is finished.
Crossings from Constitution east to Cottonwood were closed for about two hours after the incident.
6 pm Thursday: Traffic reopened at rail crossings in downtown Emporia after fatal train/pedestrian collision
Traffic has reopened at all rail crossings in downtown Emporia after a fatal collision between a train and pedestrian Thursday afternoon.
Crossings from Cottonwood to Constitution were closed for nearly three hours after the accident was reported right around 3 pm. Emporia Police, Emporia Fire and EMS were all called to the Commercial Street crossing and later pronounced the pedestrian, a still unnamed male, dead.
Full details, including the identity of the victim and an accident narrative are currently pending. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they become available.
4 pm Thursday: UPDATE: Traffic blocked at several rail crossings in downtown Emporia following fatal train/pedestrian accident
Traffic is being rerouted around the scene of a fatal train/pedestrian accident that occurred in downtown Emporia Thursday afternoon.
Traffic is blocked at all rail crossings from Cottonwood to Constitution and will remain so until further notice. Emporia Police along with Emporia Fire and EMS were called to the crossing on Commercial Street right around 3 pm for an injury accident that involved a train and pedestrian.
Authorities on scene later confirmed the pedestrian, an unnamed male, was killed in the collision with further details currently pending. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they become available.
3:30 pm Thursday: Confirmed fatality following pedestrian train collision in downtown Emporia Thursday afternoon
One person is confirmed dead, however, further details are currently pending after a train pedestrian collision in downtown Emporia Thursday afternoon.
Emporia Police and Emporia Fire were called to the railroad crossing at Commerical Street right around 3 pm following a reported injury accident after a train struck a pedestrian in the area. Further details including the name of the victim and a crash narrative are currently pending.
The train is stopped at the crossing with no timeline on when it will reopen to traffic. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more information as it becomes available.
