A Norfolk Southern railroad conductor was killed early Thursday morning after being struck by another train while working in an East Chicago rail yard, according to an East Chicago Police Department report.

Police were dispatched at approximately 3:52 a.m. on July 9 to the area of Dickey Road and East 129th Place for a reported train-versus-pedestrian incident.

When officers arrived, they were met by Norfolk Southern personnel, who directed them to a dirt path along the railroad tracks. Officers located a male, from Ohio, who was a Norfolk Southern conductor, lying face down on the tracks with multiple traumatic injuries.

Officers immediately turned the conductor over and began CPR. Additional East Chicago officers, firefighters, and Superior Ambulance paramedics continued life-saving efforts for an extended period. Despite those efforts, the conductor was pronounced deceased at approximately 6:00 a.m. by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

According to the police report, the engineer operating the train the conductor had been working on told investigators the pair had been operating one train when another train approached from behind. The engineer explained that, under Norfolk Southern operating procedures, conductors routinely exit trains to inspect passing trains for mechanical defects or safety concerns.

The engineer stated he remained inside the locomotive while the conductor was outside conducting the inspection. He said he heard the approaching train repeatedly sounding its horn and radioing that they believed they had struck the conductor. Investigators were told the striking train was traveling at approximately 30 mph at the time of the collision.

A Norfolk Southern superintendent advised police the striking train consisted of 110 rail cars and continued traveling approximately 1,446 feet after the initial impact before coming to a complete stop.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to process the scene.