Man hit by train while trying to cross tracks in wheelchair

The remnants of a wheelchair used by 58-year-old Donald Ray Karr, of Lily, after he was hit by a train Tuesday evening.

At approximately 8:40 p.m. Tuesday night, seven miles south of London near Lily, a man in a motorized wheelchair attempted to cross the CSX railroad at the Tackett Road crossing off Ky 522.

At the same time, a southbound train was approaching the crossing and collided with Donald Ray Karr, age 58, of Lily, knocking him and his wheelchair off of the tracks.

Karr received multiple injuries and broken bones, and was treated at the scene by the London Laurel County Rescue Squad, Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and the Lily Volunteer Fire Department.

He was then flown via helicopter to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington with serious injuries.

Officials at UK said Thursday that he was treated and has since been discharged. 

According to a press release sent by John Root, Sheriff of the Laurel County, alcohol played a role in the accident and at the time of the collision Karr was apparently intoxicated.

At this time there are no plans to charge Karr, according to Laurel County Sheriff’s Public Affairs Officer Gilbert Acciardo.