SC Army Vet Hired To Watch For Hartwell GA Trains Struck And Killed By Train First Day On Job

OCONEE COUNTY, SC. (THECOUNT) — Song Keun Im, of Anderson, South Carolina, has been identified as the train crossing guard attendant killed Friday afternoon after he was struck by a train on his first day on the job while working in Hartwell, GA, according to Oconee County Coroner.

Im, 28, was hit by a train at about 2:20 p.m. at a private crossing leading to an apartment complex construction site across from the Hartwell Village shopping center, according to reports.

Based on reports from the crew of the train, Im was sitting at the crossing grade on the pavement with his back to the oncoming train.

The crew reported the victim appeared to be looking down when he was struck, according to the coroner.

IM may have been wearing earbuds at the time of the accident.

The coroner said the victim was working for a temporary agency out of Greenville. He was hired to be a crossing attendant where this private roadway crossed the railroad to the construction site. It was his responsibility to be a lookout for oncoming trains and alert vehicles crossing the railroad when it was safe to cross, the coroner said. source

The coroner said the victim was thrown approximately 45 feet after impact.

Im was pronounced dead at the scene of blunt force trauma injuries consistent with the collision.

His cellular telephone was lying nearby, along with earbuds, the coroner noted in his death report.

This incident, in which the investigation is ongoing, is being investigated by the Norfolk Southern Police; Oconee County Sheriff’s Department and Oconee County Coroner Office.

Anyone with possible information on the deadly incident may contact police at 911.