Railroad News

Man’s Death in Fall from Norfolk Southern Bridge Ruled an Accident

(Bucyrus, Ohio – May 14, 2011)

Police believe the death of a Bucyrus, OH man who fell from a Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge last Friday (May 6) “just a horrible accident,” according to Bucyrus Chief of Police Ken Teets. The body of Darrell C. Butler, 48, was found below the bridge by a passer-by Saturday afternoon.

Police feel the accident happened a little after 11:00 P.M. Friday. “He was walking home across the bridge,” said Chief Teets. “It was dark, and we have been told that he had poor eyesight.” The chief added his department believes that Butler tripped on a board and fell off the bridge to his death. Butler was walking from a friend’s house in Waterford Glen to his home on the other side of the bridge.

Brenda Hansford, a Waterford Glen resident, said that the NS bridge is used frequently by people to get from one side of town to the other. “I see teenagers and other people walk across the bridge to get from here over to East Mansfield Street,” she said.