Freight Train Kills Pedestrian In Coal City: Victim, 40, Identified

COAL CITY — Grundy County Coroner John Callahan announced that a 40-year-old man from Coal City lost his life in the middle of the night when a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train struck him.

Callahan said that the coroner's office and Coal City Police are investigating the pedestrian versus train incident that happened around 3 a.m. along the train tracks north of Route 113.

According to Callahan, the preliminary investigation indicates the train was traveling north through Coal City after crossing the Route 113 crossing when the engineer of the train noticed a person on the tracks. Emergency braking was applied along with a horn, however, the train struck the person.

The man was pronounced dead by Callahan at 3:45 a.m. He is identified as 40-year-old Scott T. Marizza of Coal City.

"At this time, it is unclear why Mr. Marizza would be on the tracks and the investigation continues with both Coal City Police and the Coroner’s Office," Callahan announced.