1 dead after truck falls 40 feet onto railroad tracks in Gaston County

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A man was killed when a truck ran off a road in Gaston County and fell 40 feet onto railroad tracks below.

State troopers were trying to determine how long the vehicle had been sitting on the tracks off Hickory Grove Road.

Neighbors told investigators that they heard a loud bang earlier in the morning.

The dead man was later identified as 58-year-old Richard Green of Gastonia. Troopers said he wasn't supposed be behind the wheel because he had a revoked license.

Troopers are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the wreck but said a combination of wet conditions, alcohol, and prescription medicine was to blame.

"Terrible,” motorist Mickey Spargo said. “It's terrible for anybody to do this."

Troopers estimated Green was driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.

"If it was raining heavy, he could have been off the roadway before he even realized he was off the road,” Trooper Ryan Huffstickler said.

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