Wheelchair Bound Pedestrian Killed by Norfolk Southern Train in Illinois
(Bloomington, Illinois – May 14, 2020)
A 60-year-old resident of Bloomington, IL died at about 6:20 AM, CDT Thursday morning as he attempted to cross Norfolk Southern railroad tracks at its angular crossing of Allen Street and Front Street in Bloomington. The pedestrian, Eric T. Gulyash, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to reports Mr. Gulyash may had had difficulty negotiating the crossing’s flangeway. The victim’s wheelchair was found near his body.
Norfolk Southern operates a daily average of 5 freight trains at a maximum speed of 20 mph over the single-track road/rail crossing. The crossing has flashing lights but no crossing gates. Federal Railroad Administration records show that not only was this the fourth accident to occur there, but was also the second pedestrian fatality after a man was killed there in 2016.
