MARION, Ohio — A quiet Friday night turned tragic when a CSX freight train struck two pedestrians near the Kenton Avenue railroad crossing, killing 33‑year‑old Dalton McMillen and leaving a 12‑year‑old child seriously hurt. It happened just before 10:40 p.m., and first responders were called to the scene after the train company reported the collision.
Dalton McMillen was found on the tracks and pronounced dead where he fell, leaving friends and neighbors in shock. The young child who was with him was trapped and had to be pulled from beneath the train by emergency crews before being rushed by helicopter to a children’s hospital in Columbus.
Witnesses said rescuers worked quickly under flashing lights and sirens as the crossing was shut down for hours while investigators and cleanup crews worked. Police have not said what might have led McMillen and the child to be on the tracks at night, and that part of the inquiry is ongoing.
Family members gathered near the scene in the early hours, trying to make sense of what happened. Several said McMillen was known in the community and was often seen around town, and that this loss has left a hole in their hearts. The injured child’s condition remains serious but stable, according to hospital sources.
Local leaders and police urged residents to avoid railroad tracks and crossings unless absolutely necessary, reminding people that trains move quickly and can appear without warning. The Kenton Avenue crossing will soon reopen once inspectors give the all‑clear.
As the investigation continues, friends and family are planning a memorial to remember McMillen’s life, focusing on the warm memories they shared with him rather than the brief tragedy that took him. They ask that the community hold the family in its thoughts as they navigate the days ahead.
