What happened when SC rail worker was hit, killed by train in 2018? New report releases details

A series of ill-fated decisions led to the 2018 death of a South Carolina welder who was hit by a train going 50 miles per hour on tracks near Estill, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a final report that was recently published.

The NTSB found fault with rail company CSX for using another employee to watch for oncoming trains. The report also faulted the workers for not continuing to watch even though the work was done, as well as noting the mistake of the welder who died for taking off his reflective clothing while still on the tracks.

The report, issued in September, says CSX has changed its policy in the aftermath to require dispatchers be informed of any work on a railbed and that 10 mph speed limits be imposed in such places.

The Hampton County coroner identified the welder as 34-year-old John Youmans, who had worked for CSX for 10 years.

The fatal incident happened at 10:20 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2018, a Friday.

Youmans and another worker, who was not identified, were working to repair a track frog, the device that allows a train to be switched from one track to another. When Youmans was done, he took off his reflective jacket and told the watchman to help pack up the materials.

Meanwhile, the freight train left Savannah at 7 a.m. and was rumbling through Estill, headed their way. The NTSB found that the engineer blew the horn and bell several times, as required.

The crewmembers said they did not realize anyone was on the track and specifically said all they saw was something black and thought perhaps it was a garbage bag, according to the NTSB report.

In fact, it was Youmans bending over. The watchman, working to pack up the work truck beside the track, had his back to the oncoming train.

“And that’s where I was standing,” the watchman told NTSB investigators. “And I—something caught the side of my eye, and when I turned around, he was still in the track and it hit him.”

Asked by investigators if he thought his work was done, the man said, “I mean, he was still in the track. I just turned and (did) what I was told to do.”

The train crew said they were not told workers would be in that location.

About two weeks after the accident, CSX issued a new rule for when employees work on welding frogs and switch points on controlled tracks.

The employee in charge must tell the train dispatcher where and when work is done and reduce the speed in that location temporarily.

If a watchman is needed, that person must “Remain in position so they can physically touch the employee being protected,” the new company rule says.

After the incident, CSX issued a statement that said, “Safety is CSX’s highest priority and our goal is for every employee to return home safely to his or her family at the end of every day. Losing a fellow railroader is difficult for everyone at CSX.”

Youman was described in his obituary as “a great father, outstanding husband, son and uncle, who was the backbone of his family. He loved spending time with his family and was a hard worker who was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.”

His survivors included his wife Kelly Elisabeth Youmans; mother Willette Youmans of Early Branch; and children, Hayden, Connor and Alexis, all of Early Branch.

This story was originally published November 10, 2021 at 2:38 PM.