A 15-year-old female was killed Wednesday evening after being struck by a train near Whitesboro Street.
According to a release from the Galesburg Police Department, officers responded to the scene of a pedestrian vs. train fatality at a railroad crossing in the 400-block of North Whitesboro at around 6:37. The victim, later identified as Katie J. Ackerson, was found deceased in a nearby drainage ditch.
The indication from the preliminary investigation is that Ackerson walked around the lowered railroad gates after a train had passed but a second train struck her as she walked onto the second set of tracks.
“We are all saddened by this horrific tragedy”, stated Chief Russell Idle in a Thursday press release. “There are no words that can express the sympathy of this community to the parents and family of this young person who was taken from us way too soon.”
The scene was processed by detectives and handed over to the Knox County Coroner’s office. Immediate family was on scene and were notified of her death. Assisting the police department at the scene were the Galesburg Fire Department, GHAS, and BNSF Police.
