AREA NEWS BRIEFLY: Norfolk Southern train conductor killed in accident at Cleveland facility

DGKN staff report

A Norfolk Southern conductor, Louis Shuster, was killed March 7 on the job in Cleveland in an accident involving a dump truck, according to a Norfolk Southern news release.

The Broadview Heights conductor was struck by a dump truck as his train moved through a rail crossing at the Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works facility.

President and CEO Alan H. Shaw said in a news release that he spoke with several railroaders at the Rockport Yard who worked with the conductor known as “Lou” and they shared stories about an individual who was “respected and liked by his colleagues.”

“This is an awful day that leaves a hole in our company’s spirit. We have reached out to Lou’s family to offer our condolences. We will give them time to grieve, and we will be there with support for anything they need,” Shaw said in the release.

The cause of the accident is not yet known.

The company is working with the Cleveland Police Department and Cleveland-Cliffs representatives to confirm the details and learn everything possible about the incident. Further, the company has been in contact with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, union leadership, and Cleveland-Cliffs leadership, the news release states.

“Moving forward, we are going to rebuild our safety culture from the ground up. We are going to invest more in safety. This is not who we are, it is not acceptable, and it will not continue,” Shaw stated in the news release.