ERIE — Two Southeast Kansas youth were killed Wednesday afternoon when a Union Pacific Railroad train struck them as they were running across a railroad trestle over the Neosho River.
Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor said the accident happened at 12:39 p.m. on the railroad bridge south of Erie near 115th Road.
The Neosho County sheriff, ambulance services, the St. Paul and Erie fire departments and other agencies responded immediately upon the accident being reported.
One youth, Arthur Pollreis, 16, of Walnut was found dead. Searchers were unable to locate the other youth, Kollin Showalter, 12, of Erie, according to the preliminary accident report from the Kansas Highway Patrol and a release from the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office posted late Wednesday night on social media.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the KHP brought additional resources, drones, dogs and equipment to continue the search for the missing boy.
Sheriff Taylor wrote that the search had been called off until Thursday morning when rescue crews from Anderson County and Chanute were to be available. He also wrote that after reviewing the U.P. engine camera footage and physical evidence, investigators determined that the two children were on the bridge and unable to outrun the southbound train.
The footage and evidence also transitioned the search effort from rescue to recovery, he wrote.
The Neosho River was rising Wednesday and running nearly bank full, with a very swift current, and it was full of debris, the sheriff wrote.
“Due to extremely dangerous conditions, the recovery effort will resume in the morning (Thursday). We have specialized swift water teams coming to assist with the ongoing search. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to assist, but due to the current conditions, we ask that the public stay away from the area and allow the trained and equipped personnel to search the river,” he wrote.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected. This is a very sad tragedy for everyone involved and our community.”
