Police Identify 76-Year-Old Smithfield Man Killed By Train

SMITHFIELD — Police have identified the pedestrian struck and killed by a freight train Oct. 2 as 76-year-old David Richard Polk of Smithfield.

Smithfield Police said the delay in releasing Polk’s identity was due to efforts to locate and identify his next of kin, who live out of state.

The collision was reported near the Edgerton Street area.

Police said a CSX freight train struck Polk, who died as a result of the collision.

Polk’s death marked the fourth pedestrian fatality involving a train in Smithfield since June 2025.