Boy on tracks hit, killed by train

A 16-year-old Spokane Valley boy was killed early Sunday when he was hit by a train.

Richard W. Calhoon was killed on the tracks just west of Pines Road and south of Trent Avenue, near his home, said Spokane County Undersheriff Dave Wiyrick.

Spokane Valley police responded about 5:30 a.m. and were told by a BNSF Railway Co. engineer that he was headed east at about 25 mph when “he saw what he thought initially was a bundle of rags sitting on the tracks about 75 feet in front of the train,” Wiyrick said.

The bundle turned out to be a person lying on the tracks.

“The subject didn’t move as the train approached,” Wiyrick said. “He (the engineer) probably had less than two seconds to realize it and do anything. Obviously a train doesn’t stop in 75 feet anyway.”

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said the train of 107 cars and two locomotives was heading from Pasco to Tulsa, Okla. About a third of the cars were loaded with general merchandise and the train was delayed nearly three hours.

Melonas did not release any details about the accident, which did not occur at a crossing, saying only that it is under investigation.

Detectives don’t yet know why the boy was on the tracks, Wiyrick said. They would like to hear from anyone who had contact with Calhoon in the 24 hours before the accident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tip Line at 242-8477 or the Reporting Center at 532-9266