A 39-year-old man died Tuesday evening in a truck-train collision just off State Highway 11 east near Cornersville, according to authorities.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Winnsboro Police officers and Winnsboro, Hopkins county and Pickton Pine Forest firefighters were dispatched at 7 p .m. Tuesday, July 16 to crash involving a train and pickup truck just off State Highway 11 east near County Road 2404 winnsboro. However, the crash was found to have occurred on a private drive off SH 11 in the Cornersville area, according to sheriff’s reports.
The 39-year-old in the pickup was reportedly exiting the a private drive north of SH 11, west of a railroad crossing near Cornersville. The private drive reportedly had signs warning of the crossing, but no signals or cross arms. A witness told authorities the man never slowed down as he approached the railroad tracks in the truck. The pickup was struck broadside by the train. The lone occupant in the truck was extricated from the vehicle he was driving by Winnsboro firefighters, according to HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump.
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings was contacted; he pronounced the pickup driver dead a short time later. The deceased was identified by authorities Wednesday morning as 39-year-old Jose Jesus Flores-Celestino.
The train also sustained some damage, requiring repairs before it could continue. However, the train stopped down track off of SH 11, allowing the highway to remain open while authorities worked and investigated the crash, according to Crump.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers made an incident report instead of crash report as it occurred in a private drive rather than a public highway. Flores-Celestino had reportedly been working and staying in the area, according to authorities.
