Sedalia man struck and killed by Amtrak train

A Sedalia man was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in eastern Sedalia Saturday afternoon.

Police said witnesses saw Jonathan Eade on the train tracks just south of the overpass off East Highway 50 with another man taking pictures as the train was approaching.

Eade was struck by the train and pronounced dead at the scene.

Sergeant Chet Mackiewicz told ABC 17 News the local dispatch center “lit up” when the train struck Eade. The overpass the two were on runs over the busy highway, and people driving on the highway, as well as on the Amtrak train, called 911.

Mackiewicz says the noise from the busy highway may have made it difficult to hear the train coming.

The westbound Amtrak train had to come around a curve before crossing the overpass. Mackiewicz said a treeline near that curve also makes it hard to see the train coming from that direction, and for the train to see if anything, or anyone, is on the tracks. Mackiewicz says the windy day may have also muffled sound as the train approached to two men.

An Amtrak representative said part of the police’s investigation will be to determine if the train blew its whistle as it approached to overpass.