A man was killed when he was struck by a train in downtown Ruston early Friday evening.
Ruston Police and Fire units responded to the scene about 5:35 p.m. A deceased man was found beside the Canadian Pacific – Kansas City Railway about midway between Trenton and Monroe Streets.
A witness who asked not to be identified said the man appeared to be waiting on the tracks for the train.
The man’s shoes were found on either side of the tracks, likely marking where he was struck near the railway’s local warehouse and office. His body was a few yards away not far off the rails.
The identity of the man had not been provided as of late Friday night.
Traffic was snarled for over an hour with the Trenton, Vienna, Monroe, and Homer Street railroad crossings blocked by the stopped train while police investigated. U.S. 167 traffic (Trenton & Vienna Streets) was rerouted by police via Alabama Avenue, Tech Drive, and California Avenue.
After the man was struck, the crew of the westbound train was able to stop just short of the Louisiana Tech campus. Once it stopped, the train of mostly flatcars loaded with shipping containers pulled by two Burlington Northern locomotives stretched all the way to the Farmerville Street overpass.
Police are expected to be able to access video from the locomotive. In any train mishap, the crew typically undergoes alcohol and drug testing per company policy.
An update will follow as more information becomes available.
