A family gathering turned tragic for a Four Oaks family on Saturday. The family had gathered for a cookout to send off one of their relatives to the Navy. Instead the event took a tragic turn when an elderly family member was struck and killed by a passing train.
The elderly woman was struck and killed by Amtrak train #89 which was traveling southbound through Four Oaks about 3:30 PM Saturday.
According the victim’s nephew, family members didn’t even know she was missing when rescue personnel first arrived. The family owns property on both sides of the tracks and crosses them often. Officials believe the woman apparently failed to hear the train engineer’s horn blowing as he approached the unprotected crossing.
The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at the scene. Four Oaks Police, Four Oaks EMS and the Four Oaks Fire Department responded to the scene. Photos by John Payne
