Jim Fair
Investigators at the scene of a passing train colliding with a male in downtown Greer Thursday morning. The man, 65, was identified as David Allen Deane, know as "Elvis" by the locals.
Jim Fair
The Norfolk Southern train was headed to the Greer Inland Port.
Officials study the path of an oncoming train that collided with David Allen Deane.
David Allen Deane, known by the locals as "Elvis", was killed at 8:40 a.m. when a Norfolk Southern train collided with him. His body was found between the tracks behind the former freight Depot.
Evans reported Dean stepped in front of the train. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deane was a familiar person in Greer, walking throughout the community and downtown area. Reports did not indicate if Deane was wearing a headset or was unaware the train was between E. Poinsett and Trade streets.
The engineer, who was headed to the Greer Inland Port, blew the train horn to warn the man before he was struck, according to reports.
“If he would have crossed at that gate (Trade Street) he would have had a visual and audio, too.” Sgt. Randle Ballenger, of the GPD said. “And there’s a barrier to the railroad track instead of just walking onto the track.”
Pedestrians have been ticketed walking on the tracks in Greer. “The railroad police have been over here several times and issued citations to people walking on the track,” Ballenger said.
Pedestrians routinely have been observed walking along the tracks between adjoining neighborhoods and downtown. "I have a lot of friends that walk along these tracks who live around here," said a youth who's mother asked for him to be unidentified.
“We always want to encourage people to be aware of trains,” Ballenger said. “They are heavy, fast and have a long stopping distance.” Ballenger said there was no implication the train was speeding.
The train involved in the incident was still parked behind Greer City Hall while the investigation continued.
“We investigate every train accident,” a Norfolk Southern representative said.
Ballenger said, “It’s as simple as ‘Stop, Look and Listen’. If you need to cross railroad tracks, cross at the pedestrian crossing where gates and warnings are. You get advance warning as the train approaches.”
Norfolk Southern's "Train Your Brain" public safety campaign is in its 10th year. South Carolina has been one of the states the railroad company has featured the national safety awareness organization, Operation Lifesaver, a national organization dedicated to preventing accidents on the nation's freight and passenger rail systems. The nonprofit organization's "See Tracks? Think Train" campaign promotes pedestrian and motorist safety near railroad tracks and trains.
Officials from Greer Police, Greer Fire Department, Norfolk Southern and Greenville County investigated the scene.