Federal investigators are looking into the death of a CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) employee at the Acca Yard in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 12.
Ryan Sandy, 37, worked as a conductor for CSX, according to labor groups SMART-Transportation Division (TD) and Railroad Workers United. Sandy was a member of SMART-TD’s Local 662. He leaves behind a wife and five children, according to SMART-TD.
The circumstances surrounding the incident haven’t been released.
“The entire CSX family mourns this loss. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and co-workers. The incident is currently under investigation,” CSX said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sent investigators to the site, and a preliminary report could come out within two to four weeks following the accident, according to NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson. That report will lay out factual information about the incident but will not point to causes or other factors involved in the incident.
NTSB typically investigates rail incidents when the incidents are more serious or when they could potentially move the needle on safety or have a broader application, Knudson said.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), there have been two on-duty railroad deaths between January and July 2020. In 2019, there were 17 on-duty deaths.
On-duty deaths include fatalities that occurred from both train and non-train accidents. Non-train incidents include situations such as a maintenance-of-way worker being struck by equipment on or off track or a mechanical shop worker being killed in the course of his or her duties with no train in operation.
Additional data on fatalities may be found on FRA’s website.
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