RFP Staff
♦ Sometime around 2:15 a.m. Friday a Southbound Amtrak passenger train (Train 19 Crescent) struck and killed David Allen Parker, a Department of Corrections employee, walking across the tracks at Peeler Road and South Main near the “low rise” prison facility in Salisbury. It is the 4th recorded train death in Rowan County this year.
The Amtrak engineer told investigators that Parker was standing to the side of the tracks, then stepped out onto the tracks just before Train 19 struck him. The engineer hit the emergency brake, but could not stop in time. Mr. Parker was pronounced dead at the scene.
The family was notified of Parker’s passing.
It is alleged Mr. Parker suffered from financial and medical woes.
The train was making its daily run from New York to New Orleans when the accident occurred. None of the over 250 passengers on board were injured, but the train was delayed several hours getting to Charlotte.
The accident remains under investigation. No one on the train was injured from the sudden braking.
All trains are running now.
**This article will be updated as more information becomes available.**
