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By Denise Wilson and Denise Wilson and Lauren Pack
Staff Writers Updated 2:47 AM Tuesday, December 21, 2010

TRENTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a tree trimmer who was struck Monday by a CSX train while walking to his job site.

William E. Kingrey, 44, of Camden, an employee of Asplundh Tree Expert Co., was struck by a southbound train around 9 a.m. while he was walking across the trestle over Elk Creek at the East State Street railroad crossing near Burke Street in Trenton. The Butler County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead at the scene.

“He got caught on the trestle and couldn’t get off the trestle in time before he was struck,” said Trenton police Chief Tim Traud.

Asplundh employees were trimming trees on Duke Energy property, Traud said, with their vehicles parked on the south side of Elk Creek. At the time of the accident, Traud said Kingrey “was crossing the trestle with his equipment to go to the other side to their work area.”

Kingrey, known as “Willie” to his friends and family, had worked as a tree trimmer for 26 years, said his wife, Jeanne, from their home in the Quail Creek Mobile Home Park.

“It’s hard to believe,” said his wife about her husband’s death.

The couple lived in Camden all their lives and were members of the First Southern Baptist Church. Married 16 years, they had no children, but their dog Maggie, a friendly beagle-mix, was “daddy’s girl,” she said.

Kingrey was known as a jokester and was an avid Cleveland Browns fan. He also loved NASCAR and was a Dale Earnhart Jr. devotee, his wife said, as demonstrated by the many football and car-racing collectibles inside their home, where neighbors had gathered on Monday evening.

Traud said the police investigation into Kingrey’s death, which was ruled accidental, is closed.

However, OSHA spokeswoman Rhonda Burke confirmed the agency’s Cincinnati office is investigating the accident.

Kingrey’s employer declined comment, and CSX was unable to be reached for comment.

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