L’Observateur / March 3, 1999

LAPLACE – A deaf LaPlace man walking along the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad tracks was struck from behind Saturday afternoon and killed by a passing train.

Chief Harold Klibert of the St. John Sheriff’s Office reported that LarryHolloway Jr., 24, 186 Apricot St., was walking west on the tracks betweenBirch and Balsam streets at 2:30 p.m. when the westbound trainapproached.

Klibert added the train was moving 38 mph through the residential area.

Engineer James Massey of Baton Rouge told police that Holloway was walking along between the rails, his back to the oncoming train.

Massey blew his horn several times to alert the deaf man then, when he realized the man wasn’t going to move, slammed on the brakes.

However, the braking came too late and the train struck Holloway and carried him 400 to 500 yards.

Holloway’s father, Larry Sr., identified his son’s body at the scene andconfirmed his son’s profound deafness.

The incident, Klibert said, is still under investigation, in cooperation with the 40th Judicial District Attorney’s office.

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