1 killed in train vs. dirt bike accident in Charleroi
CHARLEROI, Pa. (KDKA) — One person has died after a train hit a dirt bike rider in Washington County on Tuesday.
The accident happened just before noon at the 5th Street Crossing in Charleroi, emergency officials said. Troopers said they don't know what went wrong.
"We are unsure, that's still under investigation of what occurred, what caused the crash," trooper Kalee Barnhart said. "The only thing we know is it involved a dirt bike and a train and the operator of the dirt bike is deceased at this time. No other injuries were reported."
A Norfolk Southern train struck and killed the dirt bike rider, emergency officials said. The coroner identified the victim as 36-year-old James Gaito of Charleroi.
"I was about to cross before the train was coming, and I just waited," witness Kendall Togni told KDKA-TV's Jessica Guay. "If they would have just stayed right there, they wouldn't have been hit if they just waited."
Witnesses also said the lights were flashing red and the gates were lowered when the crash happened. One witness said it looked like the man tried to get around and got hit.
"I saw him try to get off the tracks and the train hit him," Togni said. "If he would have waited like five more minutes, there were like two carts left."
Norfolk Southern crews were at the scene for some time on Tuesday. They were testing the lights, crossing bells and gates.
State police are investigating. Residents in the area said people have been hit on the tracks before.
"We have a lot of people who do get by trains here," Charleroi business owner Donna Russo said. "This isn't the first one."
