Photo: Alex Wong/Getty
Kerry L. Hawkins, 55, of Suffolk, Virginia, was pronounced dead when first responders arrived at the scene after being notified at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the Suffolk Police Departmentwroteon Facebook.
The railways were closed for several hours during the initial investigation, after the collision, which involved the bike-riding individual and an Amtrak passenger train, according to theAssociated Press.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the Amtrak said that the Northeast Regional Amtrak train came into contact with a person who was on the track as it was headed to Norfolk from Boston with 135 passengers aboard.
“All individuals should exercise caution around railroad tracks and crossings,” read the statement. “Amtrak works closely with Operation Lifesaver to communicate the dangers of grade crossings. Each year, about 2,000 people are killed or injured in grade crossing and trespassing incidents nationwide.”
Suffolk, Virginia.
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A woman said to be Hawkins’ sister toldWAVYthat the incident “doesn’t make sense,” as her landscaper brother was “always going over these train tracks.”
One witness to the accidenttold WAVYthat he saw Hawkins, who appeared to be “struggling,” riding a bike while attempting to cross the railway before the train passed.
Loved ones mourned the loss of Hawkins on social media, affectionately calling the man Mook and sharing in their disbelief of the tragedy.
“I love u MOOK!! Lord this one toughhhh??????,”wroteone family member on Facebook. “SINCE A LIL GIRL…I ALWAYS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE…I HAVE A MILLION MEMORIES WITH U….AND IM GONNA MISS U SO MUCH … Kerry Hawkins SLEEP IN PEACE.”
In their statement, Amtrak expressed the importance of following all safety precautions concerning railway travel.
“It’s critical that the public fully understand the consequences of trespassing on railroad property, and failure to obey grade crossings signs and signals,” read the statement. “Pedestrians and drivers often do not realize how dangerous it is to walk on or near railroad tracks, or how long it takes the average train to stop.”
It added, “It can take a mile or more for a fully loaded freight train to come to a full stop, making it difficult for railroad engineers to avoid collisions in emergency situations.”
source: people.com
