Local man hit by train, killed Wednesday

A local man died last Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a train in southern Laurel County.

According to family members, Leif Sandkulla, 35, of Lily, was walking along the railroad tracks just north of the Laurel Water District No. 2 water plant on Water Plant A Road when he was hit by the train. His father-in-law, Mickey Gabbard, said Sandkulla had just gotten off work at AISIN and was walking to meet his girlfriend, Miki Strunk, who works at McDonald’s at Pilot on Cumberland Gap Parkway. The two have been dating for about 13 years.

Gabbard said Sandkulla doesn’t normally walk the tracks, but instead waits for Strunk to give him a ride home.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Department Public Affairs Officer Gilbert Acciardo said the train blew its whistle, but that apparently Sandkulla did not hear it or ignored it.

Authorities were called to the scene at about 3:41 p.m. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, Lily Fire Department, London-Laurel County Rescue Squad and the Laurel County Coroner all responded. Sandkulla was pronounced dead at the scene.

Acciardo said this week the police continue to investigate the incident, but still have many unanswered questions, including why Sandkulla was unable to hear the train coming before it struck him.