Forward Township man killed by train

A Forward Township man was killed by a train early Tuesday morning, but it wasn't the first brush he's had with a locomotive in Monongahela this year.

Charles M. Bowen, 45, of Sunnyside Hollow, was pronounced dead at the scene in the 200 block of East Main Street, shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday.

According to the Washington County Coroner's office, Bowen was sitting along the outside of the rail of the northbound track of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad when the accident occurred. Coroner Tim Warco said Bowen died from blunt force trauma to the chest.

The engineer of a northbound train, seeing Bowen on the tracks, sounded the horn, but the victim did not move and was struck by the train, said the coroner's office.

Norfolk and Southern Railroad is investigating the fatal accident, though details from the railroad's Police Radio District in Roanoke, W.Va. were unavailable this morning.

The accident occurred about a block from where Bowen's brother, John, was struck by a train on April 11. John Bowen of 76 Kenric Ave., Donora, was walking along the tracks when he was struck by a train, shortly before 4 p.m. April 11, according to the police report. John Bowen suffered a broken leg in the accident and was flown by emergency helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment, the police report indicated.

Charles Bowen was with his brother, John, at the time of the April 11 accident, according to police.

The fatal accident Tuesday morning occurred just hours before funeral services for another brother, Frank A. Bowen Sr.

Monongahela Police responded to the scene of the train accident Tuesday. They were assisted at the scene by Monongahela fire department personnel.