UPDATE 3:20PM: The Federal Railroad Administration has released a statement on the deadly train accident Tuesday morning.
“The Federal Railroad Administration expresses deep sympathy to the loved ones of those involved in this incident. Because the deceased and others on the train were illegally trespassing on private property, this is not classified as a railroad accident and subject to investigation by FRA. The railroad operating environment is inherently hazardous, and we want to remind people to stay off the tracks and away from trains. Trespassing – which is both illegal and dangerous – is preventable by staying out of harm’s way.”
UPDATE 12PM: Mobile Police say a CSX engineer was loading cars and connecting them when the beams began to shift. All five homeless men were trespassing, and Mobile Police Cpl. Chris Levy said CSX is ready to take legal action.
“They have actually decided they are going to sign warrants on the man that was transported to the hospital, as well as the man that did not get injured, for trespassing,” said Levy. “They’ll continue in their investigation.”
The one man that survived but was injured was taken to USA Medical Center with injuries to his leg and foot.
The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences arrived on the site around 11:15 a.m. Local 15 News continues to investigate.
UPDATE 10:45AM: Crews on the scene tell us a crane is being brought in to remove the metal beams and to remove the bodies. The names of the victims have not been released to the public at this time. Local 15 News has a crew on the scene working to get more information.
UPDATE: Mobile Police and Port Authority are still on scene each conducting their own investigation. Police confirm the homeless men knew each other. The bodies still remain inside the car where they died. The dead have been identified but police are waiting to notify next of kin. Mobile Fire and Rescue officials say they have done what they can and have left.
MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) Three people were killed in an accident at CSX rail yard Tuesday morning. Mobile Fire-Rescue said three transients were killed and one injured while sleeping in one of the train cars. Officials say when the train moved, the beams shifted and fell on them.
