Conductor Dies After Being Hit By Rail Cars

A Union Pacific Railroad conductor died as he was struck by freight cars being switched at a lumber yard.

Authorities identified the victim as William Koho, 55, of Nampa. There were no witnesses to the Friday afternoon incident.

“We really don’t know how it happened,” said Lynn Bowerman, chief deputy Ada County coroner. Koho died at about 5:45 p.m., while the freight train was dropping off and picking up cars on the main Union Pacific line southeast of Boise.

Bowerman said it was unclear whether Koho fell between two cars or fell from a car.