Pedestrian struck by train in downtown Southern Pines

A pedestrian was airlifted to a trauma center after being hit by a train on Thursday.

The 40-year-old Southern Pines man was struck while walking south on the train tracks in downtown Southern Pines near East Massachusetts Ave. The CSX train was also heading south. 

According to Southern Pines Fire Chief Mike Cameron, the train was going at a low rate of speed when the impact happened.

The man was wearing earbuds. The train engineer saw the pedestrian, blew the whistle, and tried to stop the train. The pilot of the train struck the man throwing him to the side of tracks. 

The man suffered neck and back injuries and possibly internal injuries. He was in and out of unconscious and was talking some. 

Photos by Patrick Priest/Sandhills Sentinel.

Moore County EMS transported the patient to Memorial Park where Southern Pines Fire and Rescue set up a landing zone. He was flown to a nearby trauma center. 

Southern Pines Police Department was on scene assisting with traffic control and the investigation of the accident. The crossover of East Massachusetts Ave. and East New York Ave. was blocked for an extended amount of time. 

It is unclear why the man was on the tracks, and the accident is still under investigation. 

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.