Saturday, May 08, 1999
Man walking on railroad track killed
Police had told him twice before to not trespass
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — Harry McGuire knew about the dangers of walking on railroad tracks. Police warned him in January. In February, he was cited for the same thing.
On Thursday he was on the tracks again — and this time, it cost him his life.
Shortly after 5 p.m., a Norfolk Southern train ran over Mr. McGuire, 65, as he walked near Mosler and Howell avenues.
He suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene — just 100 yards from where he was given a court summons in February during a police sweep of railroad trespassers.
“It's like the police department is trying to go the extra steps to warn people, and it kind of saddens us that they continue on with their actions,” Hamilton Police Officer Don Taylor said.
The Butler County coroner performed an autopsy, but a report won't be ready until Monday.
Mr. McGuire, who lived in Hamilton, usually crossed the tracks on his way to visit his daughter, said his ex-wife, Lorene McGuire.
His daughter recently moved, but Mrs. McGuire suspects he forgot and was on the tracks Thursday out of habit.
The warnings from police didn't faze Mr. McGuire.
“If he wanted to do something and you said "no' he wouldn't have listened to you,” his ex-wife said.
For months, Hamilton and railroad police have been working to curb railroad trespassing, and they thought their efforts were starting to pay off.
“I guess my reaction is that we can do all that we can as far as educating and enforcing, letting people know now dangerous it is,” said David LeCompte, a Norfolk Southern security officer.
“But it still comes down to a personal decision.”
In February, police handed out more than 80 citations for walking on tracks or driving around gates during a five-hour sweep of the city. Since then, police have continued to hand out tickets.
Of the 54 deaths and injuries among railroad trespassers statewide in 1998, eight occurred in Butler County and six in Hamilton County. There was only one such accident in each county in 1997.
Thursday's railroad fatality was the first in Hamilton this year.
“This is one of those problems that you've got to continue to hammer on,” Mr. LeCompte said.
“It's tough that we have to see an incident like the one that occurred last night to bring it back into focus.”
In addition to a victim's family, an accident with a pedestrian or vehicle also affects train crews.
“It's going to be real hard for them to get back on the engine for their next trip,” Mr. LeCompte said. “There are always some who never get that off their minds.”
He said police will continue to patrol the tracks and visit Hamilton schools to show students the dangers of railroad trespassing.
“Maybe they'll begin to believe us a little more,” he said.
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