Kollin Showalter Obituary, Death – The body of 12-year-old Kollin Showalter, who was killed by a train in Kansas last week, has been recovered after days of search efforts. Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor confirmed that the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) contacted him around noon on Sunday about a possible sighting of a body in the Neosho River in Labette County.
Authorities responded to the area near the KGE Dam, located a few miles south of Highway 400. KDWP officers, the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, and several emergency responders arrived on the scene and successfully recovered the body. It was positively identified as Kollin Showalter and turned over to the Neosho County Coroner for further examination. Labette County Sheriff Darren Eichinger reported that a fisherman had discovered the body in the river.
The tragic accident occurred on Wednesday when Showalter and 16-year-old Arthur Pollreis were walking along a railroad bridge over the Neosho River near Erie, Kansas. Both boys were struck and killed by an oncoming train. Surveillance footage from the train’s engine showed the boys on the bridge but unable to escape in time.
Authorities were able to recover Pollreis’s body shortly after the incident, but challenging river conditions initially hampered the search for Showalter. Search crews were met with difficult circumstances, including overflowing riverbanks, a swift current, and large amounts of debris. Despite these hazards, rescue and recovery teams used sonar-equipped boats to search the river systematically.
On Friday, cadaver dogs were brought in to aid the efforts. However, by Saturday evening, Sheriff Taylor announced that the search had to be paused due to unsafe water conditions. He noted that recovery efforts would continue once conditions improved.
Following the discovery of Showalter’s body, Sheriff Taylor expressed his deep appreciation for the first responders and community members who supported the recovery mission. “This has been a very hard week for everyone involved,” he said, highlighting the emotional toll the incident has taken on the local community.
In response to the tragedy, a memorial fund has been established to support the families of both boys. The “Kollin Showalter and Arthur Pollreis Fund” has been set up at Commercial Bank in Erie. Donations will be accepted for one month at any Commercial Bank location in southeast Kansas, with all proceeds going directly to the grieving families.
Additionally, to support students and community members affected by the tragedy, the Erie School District has partnered with the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center to provide free grief counseling services.
This heartbreaking event has deeply impacted the Erie community, with many coming together to mourn the loss of two young lives and support their families during this difficult time.