Smithfield Police Identify Pedestrian Fatally Struck By Train
SMITHFIELD, N.C. – Police have identified a 29-year-old Smithfield woman who was struck and killed by an Amtrak train early Friday morning.
The collision was reported around 5:39 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Brogden Road railroad crossing.
Smithfield Police said La’Bresha Shamia Kirtz, who lived in the area, was fatally struck while attempting to cross the tracks ahead of the approaching train.
Police said the incident was captured by a video camera mounted on the train.
According to investigators, the video showed the railroad crossing arms lowering as Kirtz attempted to run across the tracks before the train crossed Brogden Road.
Kirtz was struck by the train and died at the scene.
Smithfield Police are investigating the death with assistance from the medical examiner.
Discover more from JoCo Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
My only question here is if the arms were coming down while she was crossing then why did they wait so late to come down? The arms should be coming down b4 the train is at the crossing. Seems kinda delayed. I mean she might have been in the wrong but I myself have been crossing the tracks and the arms start coming down. And I still have time to get across. The article said she was cross as they were coming down. So she should have had enough time to cross unless they were delayed coming down or they were already down and she went through them?? Does that make sense? Prayers to the family
Being on foot, I’m sure she both heard and felt the train coming. We don’t know if this was planned or simply a misjudgment, and unfortunately, no one will ever know for sure.
There are so many unanswered questions and so many possibilities that could have played a role in this unfortunate accident. She could have crossed completely, only to have the force of the train pull her back in.
Prayers for her family, and also for the train driver, who will undoubtedly have to live with this tragedy. 🙏
@Tabitha: Because first the lights and bells come on for several seconds. This is to allow vehicles and people who are already on the tracks (in the midst of crossing) time to complete before the gates come down. If you’re in the middle of crossing while the gates are coming down, you’re just asking to get hit.
Could it have been suicide by train? Even if she was deaf, she would have seen the lights flashing. I can’t imagine any other reason for her being on the tracks.
She was walking and trains go fast through the crossing and it is difficult to judge the speed of a train from the front that’s why if you hear a train just stop and wait. Especially when it is dark the lights make judgement of distance nearly impossible.
I am sad this happened and remember the crossing arms are for cars, not pedestrians.
The fact is, this poor girl let a troubled life with numerous runs with the law. There’s a possibility that she was otherwise incapacitated from either alcohol or drugs or other substances that did not allow her the ability to judge the speed The distance for the proximity of the oncoming train. It is hard to believe people can get hit by a train. I believe there were three train deaths in Clayton last year. I hope she is at peace now And that her family finds comfort.
I noticed the same thing when I read the article. The arms come down some time before the train arrives.
It’s only 3 steps to cross the tracks. Something doesn’t add up.
Regardless, I’m sorry for the person killed and for the engineer who watched this happen. The Amtrac trains are moving at a pretty good clip.
Who are you to say she lived a troubled life, you don’t know sh*t to say anything about my sister . Or you would know the police broke her over two weeks ago and she had an arm shoulder sling on. They’re are a lot of factors in this tragedy.
@tabitha Norris I have lived in JoCo all my life and I understand what you are saying. I guess it depends on the train. Whether it is freight or Amtrak . According to the article I have never seen the train come until AFTER the lights and the arm is completely down and sometimes it still doesn’t come. I pray the family and friends are comforted through this sad time.
So sorry for the loss of Bre life. She’s truly missed. Praying for her family 💕🙏
She probably had scales over her eyes and could not see. The devil is always looking for his next victim. The scales are him blinding her, that’s not saying she has scales.