(The Buffalo News posted the following article by Vanessa Thomas and T.J. Pignataro on its website on February 19.)
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A local railroad conductor was crushed to death Tuesday afternoon when he apparently became pinned between two boxcars near Union Road and Broadway in Cheektowaga.
Patrick Armstrong, 50, had almost three decades of service at CSX Transportation and was from the Buffalo area, according to CSX officials.
Firefighters who responded to the scene said Armstrong was working on a train at 1:15 p.m. at Ellicott Road, just east of Union, when the accident occurred.
A CSX official, who did not want to be identified, said Armstrong was crushed when wedged between a standing boxcar and one being backed onto a service spur to a Walden Avenue business. “It appears as though he was pinned in between two cars,” according to a Forks Fire District firefighter, who assisted at the scene. “He had severe crushing injuries.”
Paramedics from Rural/Metro Ambulance pronounced Armstrong dead at the scene.
Armstrong’s co-workers summoned help from the nearby Forks fire station. The CSX official said a brakeman and engineer were working along with Armstrong at the time.
Five firefighters raced to the scene but “there was nothing we could do,” said the firefighter, who did not want to be identified.
A CSX safety official, who said the railroad was still trying to piece together what happened, called Armstrong “one of our best employees.”
“We’d like to express our sincere condolences for the family and friends of Mr. Armstrong,” said Misty Skipper, a CSX spokeswoman. “It’s a tragic, tragic event that’s occurred.”
CSX and Cheektowaga police are investigating.