Deaths of father, son on tracks prompt inquiries

Test results pending in deaths of Trenton man and 4-year-old boy.

Robert Stacy Brown, 33 of the 800 block of Delhi Drive in Trenton, and his 4-year-old son Robert Coy Brown, were struck by a CSX train Wednesday while attempting to cross the railroad tracks near the intersection of East State Street and Potter Avenue.

Gary Stelzer/Staff photographer Robert Stacy Brown, 33 of the 800 block of Delhi Drive in Trenton, and his 4-year-old son Robert Coy Brown, were struck by a CSX train Wednesday while attempting to cross the railroad tracks near the intersection of East State Street and Potter Avenue.

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer Updated 1:12 PM Friday, February 24, 2012

TRENTON — A father and son, who spent part of their day fishing, will be laid to rest together after being struck and killed by a train Wednesday.

Robert Stacey Brown and his 4-year-old son, Robert Coy Brown, died attempting to cross railroad tracks in Trenton.

Brown’s older sister, Michelle Dooley, said her brother and nephew “loved to fish.”

“That’s where they were coming back from,” Dooley said. “It was such a nice day out and they had gone to the (Great Miami) river.

“I’m still in shock,” she added.

Dooley also said her brother had no insurance and the family is hoping for donations to help with expenses, adding that Herr-Riggs Funeral Home will handle the arrangements.

They are going to be buried together at Butler County Memorial Park, according to Dooley.

Flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and pictures of the younger Brown are part of a memorial now set up at the accident site.

Kevin Nolan, who works for Cassano’s Pizza in Trenton, stopped briefly at the memorial to leave a message.

“It says, ‘Our hearts and thoughts are with your family as you endure this horrible tragedy,’” said Nolan, a 1991 Edgewood High School graduate who now lives in Middletown. “It has been weighing heavy on my heart since last night,” Nolan said.

“It really upsets me any time a child loses his life.”

Robert Stacey Brown, 33, of the 800 block of Delhi Drive in Trenton, and Robert Coy Brown, were struck at approximately  5:10 p.m. by a CSX train about 100 feet south of the intersection of East State Street and Potter Avenue, according to police Chief Timothy Traud.

Butler County Coroner’s Investigator Debbie Lacy said Robert Stacey Brown’s death is believed to be accidental, but is listed as pending for now until more test results are received. He suffered severe cranial injuries and a torn aorta.

Lacy said Brown was struck by the train in the left side.  Witnesses said he picked up a stroller with his son in it, then walked straight ahead without looking left or right, she said.

The autopsy performed Thursday at the Butler County morgue did not reveal Brown suffered from any medical issues. Toxicology test results will take several weeks to receive.

Lacy said beer was found in Brown’s backpack, but only test results will determine if he had consumed alcohol prior to the incident.

Autopsy results on Brown’s son are still pending at the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

The train, which had 55 cars and three locomotives, was carrying mixed freight from Lima to Cincinnati, according to CSX spokeswoman Carla Groleau.

Although there’s no word yet precisely how fast the train was going, trains typically travel at up to 50 mph along that segment of track, Groleau said.

CSX is working with police to help them determine how the accident occurred and is providing video taken from the front of the train, she said.

“We’ll be cooperating fully with the investigation and working with local authorities to make sure they have all the information we have,” Groleau said.

Traud said he has not yet seen the video, but expects it to answer a number of questions about the incident.

“It will show us everything from the locomotive’s perspective,” said Traud, adding that he could not say for certain if the crossing signal was working at the time of the accident until he sees the video.

“It is extremely dependable,” Traud said of the equipment. “The railroad does a great job monitoring its devices here.”

Traud said a pedestrian killed by a train has occurred only one other time in his 31-year career in Trenton.

In 2010, William E. Kingrey, 44, of Camden, an employee of Asplundh Tree Expert Company, was struck by a southbound CSX train while walking across the trestle over Elk Creek near the same East State Street railroad crossing.

Dooley said in addition to her, Robert Stacey is survived by his parents, Robert James and Glenda Brown, and daughter Vanessa. Robert Coy is also survived by his mother, Misty Brown.

Staff writers Lauren Pack and Eric Schwartzberg contributed to this report.  Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or Skip.Weaver@coxinc.com.

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