A man was killed after being hit by a train late Monday morning in Houston’s Fifth Ward, according to witnesses.
The incident occurred at the railroad tracks near Lyons Avenue and St. Elmo Street, a location where residents say they have long feared such a tragedy.
Residents told Eyewitness News that they’ve been advocating for safety improvements for years to prevent accidents like this one.
James Joseph, a local resident who witnessed the incident, described the tragic moment: “The train was stopped on the tracks, and like many others, the man tried to cross because the train often sits there for two or three hours. But then the train started moving, and it was too late for him.”
Union Pacific reported that the train had been stopped for less than four minutes, though residents contend that trains frequently block the tracks for hours.
“This is devastating, but unfortunately, it’s not the first time we’ve seen something like this happen on these tracks,” Joseph added. “We’ve raised concerns with the city and the state for years, but despite many meetings, nothing has been done.”
State Representative Harold Dutton confirmed that a community meeting was held recently to discuss railroad safety. Councilwoman Letitia Plummer told ABC13 that her office has been working on addressing the long train stops for years.
