Icy conditions contributed to pickup-train accident that killed rural Lecompton man

An accident report says that icy and snowpacked conditions at a railroad crossing contributed to a crash that killed a rural Lecompton man last Friday afternoon.

Sgt. Steve Lewis, a Douglas County Sheriff’s spokesman, said the engineer and conductor aboard an eastbound train told officers the pickup truck’s driver was unable to stop at the crossing at East 950 Road and slid in front of the train on the icy and snowpacked gravel road.

Sheriff’s officials said 22-year-old Kyle Snyder died after his northbound pickup truck collided with the BNSF Railway train at the public crossing. The train came to a stop about one half-mile east of the crossing, which is identified by crossbuck signs but does not have flashing lights or gates.

The crash happened just after noon Friday. Lewis said the report also indicated Snyder was driving too fast for the icy and snowpacked conditions. Lewis said Monday there was no evidence that alcohol contributed.