Local Man Killed When Struck by Train

A local man was killed just after midnight Sunday morning when he was struck by a train.

Effingham Police Chief Jeffrey Fuesting said that 53-year-old Todd Arnold of Effingham was walking across the Canadian National Railroad crossing at Jefferson Avenue at 12:23am when he was struck by a southbound Amtrak train. Fuesting said Arnold was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fuesting said preliminary information indicates the lights and gates at the crossing were operating properly.

Arnold, a star athlete at Effingham High School in the early 1980s, was serving as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Altamont High School. He had just helped conclude the National Trail Conference Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday night.

Funeral services will be Friday at 10am at Watson United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8pm at Altamont Community High School.