Questions remain after teen killed by train in O'Fallon
By Steve Berry
O'Fallon Progress
Questions remain unanswered days after a 13-year-old teen was killed at the Lincoln Avenue railroad crossing in O’Fallon.
An eastbound CSX freight train screeched to a halt Sunday afternoon at 2:49 p.m.—Jonathan J. Sory had been struck and killed.
Sory of 8546 E. Highway 50, Lebanon, was hanging out with a small group of friends at the MetroBus depot next to the railroad tracks when witnesses say he jumped into the path of the oncoming train.
Witness Jim Blanchard said the kids were skating and doing tricks when Sory walked away from the group.
Blanchard said he thought Sory was walking away from the group because he had been injured skating, but then Sory jumped in front of the train as his friends tried to stop him.
"There was nothing they could do," Blanchard said.
Sory was underneath the train, dead, when police arrived.
The train blocked crossings along Lincoln Avenue, Oak Street, Cherry Street and Vine Street until 6 p.m. while police investigated. After the train was moved, the Lincoln Avenue crossing remained closed until 7 p.m. while police continued the investigation.
On Monday, police were not prepared to make a formal statement about what occurred.
O'Fallon Police Lt. Mark Berry said the department was still reconstructing the accident and talking to witnesses. Concerning whether or not Sory’s death was suicide, Police Chief John Betten on Tuesday said the decision will be made by a future coroner’s inquest.
One of Sory’s friends, Billy Smith, was with the teen at the train tracks when Sory was hit on Sunday.
Billy Smith’s mother, Deborah Smith, said her son told her Jonathan was trying to get off the tracks.
“According to Billy and Jesse, he was trying to get off the tracks,” Smith said
Sory was a student at Fulton Junior High in O'Fallon who liked to skateboard, ride his bike and listen to music.
School District 90 Superintendent Nancy Gibson, Ph.D, said the District 90 crisis team met Sunday afternoon after the incident.
The team of counselors, social workers, school nurses and a minister met with around 100 students on Monday at the Fulton Junior High School.
At the request of the family, all services are private and will be held at a later date, at Edgemont Bible Church in Fairview Heights.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Edgemont Bible Church, Fairview Heights, Ill, 62208. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.schildknechtfh.com.
