GA. DOT EMPLOYEE FROM THOMASTON KILLED BY A TRAIN

AN EMPLOYEE OF THE THIRD DISTRICT GA. DOT OFFICE IN THOMASTON WAS KILLED THURSDAY MORNING WHEN HIS TRUCK WAS STRUCK BY A TRAIN IN MORELAND IN COWETA COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO THE GA. STATE PATROL---THE VICTIM—60 YEAR OLD CAREY BYRON ELLERBEE OF THOMASTON WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON JOHNSON PLACE AND SOUTH RAILROAD STREET WHEN HIS DUMP TRUCK WAS HIT BY A TRAIN AND DRAGGED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.

ELLERBEE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE—THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE TRUCK—AND NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT IN THE ACCIDENT. COWETA FIRE RESCUE WORKED TO STOP A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE OF THE TRAIN FOLLOWING THE WRECK.

THE CAUSE OF THE WRECK IS UNKNOWN BUT COWETA OFFICIALS SAID ELLERBEE HAD BEEN ON THE JOB ALL NIGHT CLEARING ROADS SO AUTHORITIES ARE WONDERING WHETHER FATIQUE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE ACCIDENT.

THERE ARE NO RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNS WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE.

A NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES NEAR-BY TOLD REPORTERS HER WHOLE HOUSE SHOOK—LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF—WHEN THE TRAIN HIT THE DUMP TRUCK.