Crime & Public Safety

Man killed by freight train in Hardeeville, coroner says. Victim still unidentified

Freight train passing at railroad crossing.
Freight train passing at railroad crossing. Getty Images

The body of a man who was struck and killed by a train in Hardeeville early Sunday morning has not been identified, according to the Jasper County Coroner’s Office.

The man’s body was found about a mile south of the Main Street railroad crossing just after 3 a.m. Sunday. Coroner Willie P. Aiken said the unidentified Black male, who appears to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was hit by a southbound CSX freight train and died at the scene.

Officials did not find an ID with the man’s body, Aiken said. The coroner’s office will work with CSX Transportation to uncover additional details, including potential video footage of the accident, he said.

Sunday morning’s death comes less than six months after another fatal accident at the Hardeeville railroad crossing. Rose Black, 59, of Hardeeville, was killed by an incoming Amtrak train after traffic left her trapped on the tracks on the morning of Oct. 28, according to previous reporting from the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

The Jasper County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death of the unidentified man.

This report will be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 11:11 AM.

Evan McKenna
The Island Packet
Evan is a breaking news reporter for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. A Tennessee native and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he reports on crime and safety across Beaufort and Jasper counties. For tips or story ideas, email emckenna@islandpacket.com or call 843-321-8375.
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