HALL CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE:
“A man was killed when he was struck by a train Thursday, Dec. 14, as he was walking along
railroad tracks on Georgia Avenue in Gainesville. The incident, which happened on Georgia
Avenue in the area of Industrial Boulevard, was reported to 911 just before 3:30 p.m.
A preliminary investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has determined two
people were walking in the center of the track as a train approached them from behind.
When the train conductor sounded the horn, one person moved to the side, but the victim
continued to walk on the track. The conductor was unable to stop the train and the man
was struck. He died at the scene.
The victim, a 49-year-old white male, is believed to be part of the homeless community in
Gainesville. His name is being withheld until relatives can be notified of the death.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The incident caused massive rush hour traffic delays on the southside of town for several hours because the train block several streets and roads, including two major routes into and out of town – Candler Highway and Athens Street. The sheriff’s office did post a “traffic alert” about it on Facebook.”)