| I went down there about 30 minutes after it happened, heard it on the traffic report on the radio. The accident occurred around 7:15 A.M. I ended up speaking with the UP Special Agent and the crew of the train. What they had to say was pretty consistent with what the other eyewitnesses said. They said she, Donna Naypier, a 78 year old lady from Leavenworth, KS, went around the gates at the 135th Street Crossing, backed up onto the tracks, and was struck by the train. As I understand it they were traveling up the main less then 20 MPH after a meet at the north end of Kenneth Siding with a southbound train. The engines got stopped only about 10 car lengths past the crossing. They were UP Train GE7HKM 20 with 95 empty grain hoppers weighing in at 2,985 tons, so they squatted down pretty quickly after they plugged it. The train was headed north on the Coffeyville Sub., 135th Street is around MP 298. The car was just off to the right of the far right police officer in the weeds about 6 cars back from the engines. The yellow object on the ground is, unfortunately, the body of the victim. A dog that was also riding in the car was also killed in the collision. Ms. Naypier was pronounced dead at the scene. The police said they think she was confused and/or disoriented. She had been reported missing at 4 A.M. from her home in Kansas. |
