A mysterious train accident claimed the life of a young Beaumont high school football player early Sunday morning. 18-year-old Matthew Eugene Thomas’ body was found at about 7 a.m. lying across the Kansas City Southern line railroad tracks.
The circumstances of Thomas’ death are still somewhat unclear. So far there is no evidence of foul play, and toxicology tests will reveal whether there is a presence of drugs or alcohol in his system, which could be a contributing factor.
Local authorities have determined that Thomas was already lying face down on the train tracks when he was hit by the oncoming locomotive. The train engineer apparently saw a body lying on the tracks and attempted to stop—but it was too late and the force of the train’s forward momentum prevented the engineer from being able to halt the train in adequate time to avoid hitting Thomas’ body.
According to friends, Thomas had been at a party on Saturday night, and was walking home when the accident occurred. He was only about a mile from his home.
The incident has rocked Vidor high school, where Thomas was a student, as well as his family, the football team and the entire community. Dr. Joe Burns, the Vidor school superintendent released a statement: “It’s one of those tragedies you just hate to happen. It has left us heartbroken. He was a great kid and a good football player. It’s horrible.”
If you or someone you know has been injured in a train wreck or any other type of accident, call Houston injury lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a nationally recognized Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. He understands how difficult the prospect of a legal case can be, and will walk you through every step of the process to make you feel comfortable, taken care of, and safe. Call today or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.
