Norfolk Southern worker identified in fatal mishap on tracks at Cleveland steel plant

A Norfolk Southern worker is dead after being struck by a dump truck Tuesday morning at a railroad crossing at a Cleveland steel plant.

Norfolk Southern says conductor Louis Shuster was killed by a dump truck on the Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works property in Cleveland.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office says Shuster, 46, was from Broadview Heights.

Cleveland Police say Shuster was killed around 1:30 a.m. when a dump truck struck the train while it was moving through a crossing at the plant on West 3rd Street.

The dump truck that was hauling a full load of limestone, police said, initially stopped at a stop sign at the railroad crossing then pulled forward and struck the first car of the train.

The train's conductor, Shuster, was positioned outside of the train and was struck by the dump truck owned by TMS International.

"Norfolk Southern has been in touch with the conductor’s family and will do all it can to support them and his colleagues," the railroad said in a statement. "We are grieving the loss of a colleague today. Our hearts go out to his loved ones during this extremely difficult time."

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Norfolk Southern said it is cooperating with Cleveland Police that is investigating the mishap and that it has been in contact with Gov. Mike DeWine's office along the union that represents Shuster.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it was sending in its own investigators to look into the fatality.

This is the latest incident involving the railroad in the state.

Over the weekend, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Springfield.

And last month, a much larger derailment in East Palestine caused mass evacuation and lingering environmental concerns.

Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio, D-Lakewood, said she plans to bring up this string of rail incidents in the statehouse when the Senate Select Committee on Rail Safety meets on Wednesday.

“This tragedy is another example of how dangerous trains can be not only to our communities but to rail workers as well," Antonio said. "As ranking member on the Senate Select Committee on Rail Safety, I hope we will address some of these dangers and explore policy solutions that will make our railways safer."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the Federal Railroad Administration will also assist in the investigation.

"Our thoughts are with the family facing this preventable tragedy," Buttigieg said in a statement. "Now more than ever, it is time for stronger freight railroad accountability and safety."

TTD, the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department, said the coalition of transportation unions stand united in mourning the loss of a fellow member.

"We mourn the loss of a Norfolk Southern conductor who was killed on the job this morning," the coalition said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with all of his loved ones and his union siblings."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Louis Shuster killed as dump truck hits Norfolk Southern train in Cleveland