Campbell, Mo., man struck and killed by train Tuesday morning

CAMPBELL, Mo. — A 44-year-old Campbell man was found deceased at a section of railroad tracks in Campbell on Tuesday morning.

According to Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder, it is believed that a train struck and killed Keith L. Skaggs between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m., Tuesday morning, which is when the last Union Pacific trains were known to come through the area.

A spokesman for Union Pacific told the Daily Dunklin Democrat on Wednesday morning that since being contacted by the Campbell Police Department at approximately 7:40 a.m. Tuesday morning regarding the incident, it has launched its own investigation.

Mark Davis, director of corporate relations and media, said that during the company's examination, investigators identified three trains that had been in the area between 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.

Davis said after inspecting those trains and speaking with the crews employed on those trains, investigators learned that members of one crew did remember thinking they saw something on the tracks between 3:15 and 3:30 a.m., that they originally believed to be a deer.

Although Sheriff Bob Holder told the Daily Dunklin Democrat there was no question that Skaggs' life was ended as a result of being hit by a train, Union Pacific did not confirm or deny it was absolute that Skaggs was hit by one of the Union Pacific trains. The company did indicate the investigation is still ongoing.

No one has proposed what Skaggs was doing near the tracks during the time of the incident or whether the incident was accidental or intentional.

Union Pacific had initially closed the portion of the railroad at which Skaggs' body was located, but has since reopened the tracks for business.