GARRETT, IN - The Indiana State Police believe they know how a West Virginia man ended up dead along the railroad tracks in Garrett last week.

The body was found near Taylor Road on Garrett's east side on Dec. 29.

Police said 30-year-old Michael Dale Griffith, of Charleston, West Virginia died from blunt force trauma. His body was found near Taylor Road on Garrett's east side last week on Tuesday (December 29th, 2020).

After Indiana State Police investigators reviewed the CSX train camera systems, they determined an eastbound CSX train struck Griffith at the rail crossing when he was running northbound across the tracks into the path of the eastbound train on the center track.

Investigative reports indicate the lights on top of the stop arm were functional, and the train's horn sounded several times as it approached. The train was going 50 mph, which is below the posted 60 mph for that area.

The train's operator told police he didn't see Griffith and he also wasn't aware he hit anything.
There were no other witnesses in the area at the time of the accident.

The coroner's office ruled his death an accident, and detectives found no evidence at this time to suggest a crime was committed.