WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Norfolk Southern employee fatality that occurred Wednesday in Decatur, Ala., the agency announced today.
An NTSB spokesman said in an email that the incident occurred about 5:15 p.m. when a locomotive engineer was struck by freight cars. Additional information about the exact circumstances of the incident is still being developed. Three NTSB investigators arrived at the site on Thursday and are expected to be on the scene for up to a week.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen on Friday identified the individual killed as Chris M. Wilson, 55, a BLET member and 30-year NS employee. The BLET’s Safety Task Force will assist in the investigation, the union said.
The railroad said in a statement that it is “grieving the loss of a member of our team and our hearts are with their loved ones during this extremely difficult time. We are cooperating fully with the NTSB to understand what happened.”
“This tragic loss underscores the safety risks present in railroading, even in the controlled environment of a rail yard,” BLET National President Eddie Hall said in a statement. “This week marks one year since Norfolk Southern’s derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. I hope as we reflect on that disaster and on the need to continually improve rail safety that we also pause to remember Brother Wilson and the family he leaves behind.”
The NTSB said no determination of the probable cause or contributing factors will be released until the final report, expected in 12 to 24 months. A preliminary report, detailing basic facts of the incident, is usually completed in two to three weeks.
— Updated Feb.. 2 at 10:40 a.m. CT with additional information from NTSB; updated at 1:05 p.m. CT with information and statement from BLET.
