It’s proving difficult to identify man killed by train in Ocean Springs. Here’s why.
It’s sometimes difficult to identify a person who has been hit by a train, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. told the Sun Herald on Tuesday, especially if the victim has no tattoos or there are no belongings found.
That’s the case with the latest pedestrian who was hit around noon on Monday near Hickory Drive, a short residential street near busier Halstead Road.
This is the third death of a person walking on the train tracks in Ocean Springs this year. The others occurred Jan. 7 and Dec. 15.
The man walking the tracks on Dec. 15 was identified as Stephen Cole, 29, of Washington. Jackson County officials waited to release his name until his family could be reached.
But the man listed as John Doe on Monday has no identifying marks, Lynd said. And due to the facial and full body trauma, it was difficult to even estimate his age.
His body was sent to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for help with identifying him.
Lynd said they were able to get fingerprints, but no match was found in Mississippi. Lynd said that could mean he’s from out-of-state or that he has never had his fingerprints taken.
“The public has been calling,” Lynd said. If they have a relative they have not been able to get in touch with during the holidays, “they were wondering if this might be him.”
The fact that he has no tattoos has ended most of those inquiries, he said.
If a family is found that does come forward, there could be an identity from a DNA match or possibly dental records, he said.
Ocean Springs Police said witnesses saw the unidentified man walking westbound on the railroad tracks and he did not respond to the westbound train’s warning of its approach. The train entered emergency mode and came to an emergency stop after fatality striking him, police said.
Roads in the area were blocked while emergency crews, CSX personnel and the coroner performed their duties, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ocean Springs Police at 228-875-2211 or the coroner’s office at 228-769-3197.
