Man struck by train in Springfield discharged from hospital

SPRINGFIELD — UPDATE @ 4 a.m: Daren Preston, who was struck by a train in Springfield last week, has been discharged from Miami Valley Hospital, according to a hospital representative.

>> Victim identified in deadly Springfield fire

Preston, 51, who was in critical condition at one point, was transferred by Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital after he was struck by a train while sitting on the tracks on Sept. 19.

The train was bound for Bellevue in northern Ohio with mixed freight when it struck Preston around 8:45 p.m. near the intersection of High and Yellow Springs streets in Springfield.

“There was a person who was sitting on the edge of the track on the end of the tie,” Jon Glass, manager of public relations, said.

The crew sounded the horn and began braking, but the man did not move, he said.

“The train was not able to stop in time,” Glass said.

Preston was reportedly trespassing when he was struck, which was about 200 feet from a crossing.

“It is not only very dangerous to walk on tracks but it’s trespassing,” Glass said. “We try to educate people that it’s not safe to do that.”

Norfolk Southern assisted local law enforcement at the scene.

Got a tip? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com.