Death of man struck by train in Trenton ruled accidental by coroner

Family says Gary McKinney Jr. was loved by all who knew him.
Gary McKinney Jr., 33, was killed Monday night while walking on the railroad tracks in Trenton. PROVIDED PHOTO

Gary McKinney Jr., 33, was killed Monday night while walking on the railroad tracks in Trenton. PROVIDED PHOTO

A Butler County man struck by a train died from multiple traumatic injuries and his death was ruled accidental, according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Gary McKinney Jr., 33, was walking near Wayne-Madison Road and Riverside Drive in Trenton at 5 p.m. Monday when he was struck by a CSX train, said Sgt. Ryan Hensley from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

He said investigators are awaiting video from the train.

McKinney’s sister, Olivia Hambidge, 31, posted a picture of him on Facebook and said her brother suffered from mental illness, was without a home and frequented Trenton businesses.

“He was known and loved out there,” his sister said. “It’s great that he was part of a community that was understanding, loving and caring. It’s been a blessing to see that.”

Her brother always said he was “a free soul,” his sister said.

“He wanted to be one with the land,” she said.

Hambidge said her brother was known to drink and he sometimes passed out on the railroad tracks.

His death is at least the second on Butler County railroad tracks within the last two months.

In June, Andrew Smith, 33, of Middletown, was walking along the tracks at Waneta Street near Oenka Avenue in Middletown when he was killed, according to Lt. Malcolm Tipton.

There were 18 pedestrian fatalities on Ohio railroads last year, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

There were 35 trespass incidents in Ohio occurring along rail lines at locations other than grade crossings, resulting in 15 deaths and 20 injuries, according to the Department of Transportation.

There also were five incidents during which a pedestrian was struck at a highway-rail grade crossing in Ohio, resulting in three deaths and one injury.

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