Bicyclist dead after collision with Amtrak train in Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. - A bicyclist died after colliding with an Amtrak train Thursday afternoon, Eugene Police said.
The victim was identified by EPD as James Aaron Daywitt, 49 of Eugene.
According to EPD officials, Daywitt was riding his bike south near the intersection of East 8th and Hilyard Ave. when he ran into an eastbound Amtrak train at 5:14 p.m. Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police closed the area down until 9:30 p.m. while investigators collected evidence and the mangled bicycle from the scene. While Daywitt was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, police said that he may have been using headphones.
Daywitt, known to friends and family as Aaron, leaves behind his wife and two children. Dewitt graduated from the University of Oregon and worked at Alpine Mortgage Planning near Valley River Center.
Yeah, This guy Daywitt was 49 yrs old. He should have known better than to ride his bike AROUND the crossbucks and onto the crossing. My 6 yr old daughter knows that when those things come down, there is a train coming. My heart truly goes out to his family and especially the engineer that has to live with this persons stupidity for the rest of HIS life.
 @richfam There are no arms that come down over the bike path. The witness said the arms were "coming down" over the street. Aaron was an incredible person who seems to have made a tragic error. We don't know exactly how it happened. If you don't have all of the information, you should keep your judgements to yourself.