Brendan Heisey Obituary, Death – A 22-year-old Messiah University student has been identified as the victim of a fatal train incident near the school’s campus in Cumberland County. The Cumberland County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the student, Brendan Heisey of Elizabethtown, lost his life on Friday morning after being struck by a train while walking along the railroad tracks close to the university’s South Gate.
The incident occurred in the 400 block of Grantham Road in Upper Allen Township. According to Norfolk Southern, the site of the accident was near the Grantham Road overpass and was not located at a designated public grade crossing. The northbound train struck Heisey as he was on the tracks.
Emergency responders were called to the scene shortly before 11 a.m., with Upper Allen Township Police arriving to investigate. The coroner’s office determined that Heisey suffered multiple traumatic injuries from the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said that no members of the train crew sustained injuries during the incident. Norfolk Southern confirmed the train involved was moving north at the time of the crash. The company also indicated it would cooperate fully with investigators.
The investigation is ongoing and is being handled jointly by the Upper Allen Township Police Department and the Cumberland County Coroner’s Office. Officials are continuing to piece together the circumstances that led to Heisey being on the tracks at the time of the accident.
Messiah University released a statement acknowledging the student’s death and expressed deep condolences to Heisey’s family, friends, and the broader campus community. The school also stated it would continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. In response to the tragedy, counselors and support staff were made available to help students and faculty cope with the sudden loss.
In addition, university officials announced that the South Gate entrance to the campus will remain closed while the investigation continues. The closure aims to ensure safety in the area and allow authorities to conduct a thorough review of the scene.
For the local community, the death of Heisey marks a heartbreaking event. Friends, classmates, and faculty members are grieving, while police continue to urge caution around railroad tracks, emphasizing the dangers of walking near or along them, especially in areas not designated for pedestrian crossing.
The coroner’s office and local police have not released further details about why Heisey was on the tracks or whether other contributing factors may have played a role in the incident. For now, the focus remains on completing the investigation and supporting those mourning the loss.
The death of Brendan Heisey has left a lasting impact on the Messiah University community, as students and staff come together to remember the young man whose life was cut tragically short.
