EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An Amtrak maintenance work was killed today (Monday, Feb. 23) when struck by a train near Lancaster, Pa.
The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m. in East Lampeter Township, just east of Lancaster. The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 39-year-old Jeremy Charles of Holtwood, Pa. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Amtrak extends our profound condolences to the family of an employee who suffered a fatal injury today on the Harrisburg Line near Lancaster, Pa.,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with their loved ones during this difficult time.”
The company has suspended Keystone Service for the rest of the day while the incident is under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is sending an investigation team to the scene.
The news site Lancaster Online reports the coroner’s office said Charles was working with a crew on the rail line when he was struck.
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No mention of what he was doing. Could just be HE made an error. I once came around a curve at 79 mph to find a group of railroad employees looking at something in the gauge. They were all in the foul. Fortunately they all got out of the way as I reached for the brake handle. If they had a radio they definitely weren’t monitoring it as detectors and my calling signals would have gave them fair warning.
This should never have happened. Depending on the circumstances, this appears to be either a locomotive crew, dispatch supervisor, or maintenance supervisor error.