MURRAY, UTAH – October 2, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – A man in a motorized wheelchair who was struck and killed by a TRAX train Friday night has been identified.
Authorities have identified 61-year-old Donald Leroy Brown as the victim.
Connie Smith was with the victim when the accident happened. Smith told Gephardt Daily she and her companion were attempting to cross the tracks near 100 West and 4500 South around 8:30 p.m. when his wheelchair somehow became stuck.
She said the victim slid from the chair onto the tracks but was unable to move as the train approached.
Smith said she was trying to pull him to safety when he was hit and killed by the northbound train.
The Utah Transit Authority’s Lt. Alex Blauer confirmed the victim was in a designated crossing area at the time of the accident. He said whether the train’s driver saw the victim or had time to react has yet to be determined.
UTA anticipated TRAX lines would be closed in both directions for several hours.
