Coroner identifies man struck by train near Philo

PHILO TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Coroner has released the name of a man who was struck by a train near Philo on Wednesday afternoon.

32-year-old Michael J. Dixon of Arcola was pronounced dead at the scene — about a quarter-mile east of the railroad crossing and County Road 1500 E — at 3:30 p.m.

Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said the sequence of events that led to the train hitting the victim started at 2:09 p.m. A clerk working at the Phillips 66 gas station in Philo reported that a homeless man was causing problems for him.

While en route, sheriff’s deputies were given a description of the man and were told he was now walking along the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that run through the area. Deputies later spotted Dixon walking west along the tracks.

Heuerman said the deputies were preparing to make contact with Dixon in regard to the earlier incident. Before they could, a passing train hit him.

Coroner Stephen E. Thuney said that while witnesses heard the train horn sounding, they did not see Dixon react to it prior to being struck.

As the train came to a stop, the deputies immediately started trying to save Dixon’s life, but they were unsuccessful.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday. The Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Office both continue to investigate the incident. Heuerman said that anyone with further information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 217-384-1213 or Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477.

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