Man Killed When Struck by Train Near Altamont (UPDATE)

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Published on July 18 2018 8:02 am
Last Updated on July 18 2018 9:05 am
Written by Greg Sapp

A man was killed overnight near Altamont when struck by a freight train.

Authorities identified the man as 23-year-old Lucas R.M. Ahten of rural Altamont.

Effingham County Sheriff's Office received a report at 11:54pm Tuesday of a pedestrian struck by a CSX train on the St. Louis Railway, about a mile west of 450th Street on the northwest edge of Altamont. The sheriff's office, Altamont Police Department, Altamont Fire Protection District and Abbott Ambulance Service were dispatched to the area and located Ahten's body.

The sheriff's office contacted the Illinois State Police Division of Crime Scene Services and the CSX Railroad Police, who assisted at the scene.

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said an autopsy will be conducted today to officially determine the cause of death.

Following an investigation at the scene, railway traffic resumed on the St. Louis line at about 4:30am Wednesday.