LG Man Hit By a Train

A La Grange man is lucky to be alive after being hit by a train Monday night.

In fact, he sustained no serious injuries.

According to Trooper Louis Gabler of the Texas Department of Public Safety, who investigated the incident, George Barrier III, 42, of La Grange was walking on the train tracks about a mile east of the crossing on Old Plum Highway.

Gabler said that in itself is illegal trespassing because it’s railroad property.

A train approached and the conductor said he saw Barrier, honked the horn several times and when Barrier did not move, he applied the train’s brakes.

“But trains are like 18-wheelers, they can’t stop on a dime,” Gabler said.

The train was going at the suggested 25 miles-per-hour in that section of the track and at the time the train struck Barrier, Gabler thinks that train was probably going between 20-25 miles per hour.

Barrier said he did not hear the train. The train struck Barrier in the back and knocked him off the track.

In addition to Gabler, Fayette County EMS and the Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. Barrier was checked out but had no serious injuries and was released.

He was cited for interfering with railroad property/criminal trespass, Gabler said.

“It’s a miracle he was able to walk away,” Gabler said.