Sikeston nursing home resident dies from injuries after being hit by train

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A resident of a Sikeston nursing home was hit by a train on tracks near the home shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday and later died of her injuries.

Emergency responders were called to the scene of the accident at the Wakefield Avenue crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks about 7:15 a.m. The accident victim, a 71-year-old resident of the nearby Hunter Acres Caring Center, apparently left the facility and walked to the train tracks, according to a news release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

The victim, whose name hasn't been released by authorities, was airlifted from the scene and taken to Saint Francis Medical Center. She was later pronounced dead by the Scott County coroner.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety chief Drew Juden said the woman was sitting by the tracks when the train came through.

"She got out of the facility and was seated by the railroad tracks," Juden said. "The engineer said he saw her as he approached the Wakefield crossing. He put on his emergency brakes, blew his horn, and did everything he was supposed to do."

The train had 113 cars, which normally take about half a mile to stop, and was unable to avoid hitting the woman.