Hornell man struck by train, killed while walking railroad tracks in Big Flats

A Hornell man is dead after he was struck by a train while walking along railroad tracks Saturday in the Town of Big Flats.

The Chemung County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as 29-year-old Timothy Galusha.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday, deputies were called to railroad tracks along county Route 64 behind the Simmons-Rockwell car dealership after a Norfolk Southern conductor reported striking an individual who was walking on the tracks, the sheriff's office said.

A preliminary investigation indicated the train was westbound when it encountered Galusha, who was walking in an easterly direction within the rails on the tracks, toward the train.

The conductor sounded the horn and hit the brakes, but Galusha did not move from the tracks and the train was unable to stop before striking him, the sheriff's office said.

Investigators believe Galusha couldn't hear the train's approach because he was wearing ear buds at the time. The conductor also indicated he had his head down at the time, according to Sheriff Bill Schrom.

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Galusha was living with a relative and was believed to be walking to work at Consumer Square, according to the sheriff's office.

The incident remains under investigation until the sheriff's office obtains all data from Norfolk Southern Railroad Corp.

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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Big Flats train, pedestrian collision kills Hornell man