Dixon, IL – Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal train accident near Nelson as Omar Arroyo, 31, of Chicago. The tragic incident occurred on September 24th, when the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a man walking along the railroad tracks near Wadsworth Way and Railway Road.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Arroyo was seen trespassing on the tracks when he jumped in front of an approaching train at approximately 8:10 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by the train. The sheriff’s office was able to identify him through fingerprint records and notified his family in Chicago.
Investigators determined that Arroyo acted deliberately, jumping in front of the train. The investigation is now closed, with no further information on potential contributing factors. Lee County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by Illinois State Police, the Dixon Rural Fire Department, the Dixon City Fire Department, the Lee County Coroner’s Office, and Union Pacific Railroad during the response and investigation.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid trespassing near train tracks due to the inherent dangers.
