The death of a railroad engineer in Auglaize County, Ohio appears to be a work-related accident, according to police who investigated the scene.

The railroad worker, a 59-year-old man from Cincinnati suffered a fatal accident that left him crushed in between a rail car and an engine. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Initial investigations at the scene, south of the Taylor Road crossing, deemed no foul play was involved. Police speculated that the incident occurred when a southbound train was struggling to get over a small hill. To help give the train an extra boost to clear the incline, the worker enlisted the help of an additional engine to push the train.

The man was stationed between the train and the engine. Once the train finally cleared the modest hill, the engine stopped and the train and engine separated from each other. However, the train unexpectedly rolled back and slammed into the engine once again, pinning the man in between and inflicting fatal injuries.

A spokesperson for the railroad issued a statement of grief over the train accident and reinforced the fact that authorities continue to investigate the incident.

The ordeal highlights both the dangers and prevalence of train accidents in Ohio and throughout the rest of the United States. Federal Railroad Administration studies show that there are roughly 12 collisions between a train and vehicle or pedestrian every day in the U.S.

Many times, railroad companies will heap blame on a car driver or pedestrian. It is important to consult a qualified lawyer that can conduct practices like accident reconstruction to determine which party is responsible in a railroad accident.

Source: WHIOTV.com, "Engineer identified in fatal train accident in Auglaize Co.," Sept. 8, 2011