Muncie man dies riding a bicycle in front of the train

Free Press Report

MUNCIE, IN - Riding a bicycle in front of a train while listening to an iPod can be fatal as a Muncie man found out late Saturday.

 Dead is Phillip Dwain Howell, 47, who has a South Elm Street address, after he bounced off a locomotive at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard crossing next to Cardinal Greenway .

 Delaware County Coroner Scott Hahn reported Howell died of blunt force injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital after taken there by paramedics.

 Howell has earphones and an iPod on when he rode his bicycle around crossing gates and was struck by the oncoming locomotive, Authorities had both witnesses at the scene and the railroads' camera on the locomotive document the accident.

 Hahn said routine toxicology would determine if Howell had been drinking or taking drugs. There was no immediate explanation why Howell rode in front the train.

 The crossing was closed for a couple hours while police and the the coroner conducted their investigation.The accident happened just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday.