A Dayton man became just the second train-pedestrian fatality in six years after Dayton made national news for having six such accidents during a 17-month stretch in 1996-97.

Robert Lebron Wilkey, 27, of Dayton, was walking southbound in the middle of the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks at about 2 p.m. Monday, according to Sgt. Darrell Bell with the Dayton Police Department.

The engineer of a southbound train spotted Wilkey on the tracks when the train was about 800-1,000 feet from him and immediately began sounding the train's whistle and bells. Wilkey never turned around in spite of the warning sounds, according to Bell's report. About 100 feet from Wilkey, the engineer reportedly began emergency braking procedures.

When the train was just a few feet away, Wilkey apparently looked back at the train and then unsuccessfully attempted to get off the west side of the tracks.

The train struck Wilkey on the right side of his head and body and knocked him off the tracks, according to Sgt. Tom Solomon.

Paramedics from Rhea Emergency Medical Service and members of the Dayton unit of the Rhea County Rescue Squad retrieved Wilkey's body from the tracks behind Charlie Rogers Ford, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No autopsy was performed, but Rhea Medical Center staff did take a blood sample to determine if there was any alcohol or drugs in his system.

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

The 33-car train was loaded with automobiles and traveling at about 50 miles per hour-the speed limit for trains in Dayton, according to Bell.

Edward L. Bailey, 45, was also struck and killed by a train in the same area of South Dayton on Jan. 28, 2003.

The three miles of railroad track through South Dayton were dubbed the most dangerous section of track in the country when six local residents were struck and killed by trains in that area between February 1996 and August 1997. The incidents had a variety of causes including suicide and intoxication.

John Carpenter can be reached at jcarpenter@xtn.net.