911 calls reveal driver may have been stuck on tracks in deadly train crash

Action News Jax Investigates a deadly January train crash that killed a local man.

Newly released 911 calls and witness testimony reveal the SUV may have been stuck on the tracks as the Amtrak train approached.

The crash happened in at Roosevelt Boulevard and Timuquana Road in the Venetia neighborhood on the Westside where that crash happened.

We obtained six 911 calls made during this crash. Those calls reveal the driver who died may have had no way to get out of the way of the train. The witness we spoke to said that’s exactly what happened.

The six desperate 911 calls for help came in after this Amtrak train slammed into Josh McCoy’s Chevy Tahoe, killing him.

Dispatcher: “Do you know if they need any rescue?”

Caller: “I would imagine so.”

“I was at the light over here,” John Lockwood said.  He said he witnessed the deadly crash unfold January 14th.

Lockwood said McCoy had the green light on Timuquana at Roosevelt, but traffic in his lane stopped so emergency vehicles could go thru the intersection.

“The first fire truck went through, then the rescue vehicles went through,” Lockwood said.

Lockwood said that’s when McCoy’s light turned red, then the railroad safety equipment activated with the train approaching. With McCoy stopped between the traffic arms, FHP’s crash report said he was stopped there illegally.

“The truck was trying to get around the island into oncoming traffic to get away from the train,” Lockwood said.

“There was a car it was in the tracks, and the things came down real quick, and he couldn’t get out of the way fast enough and the train hit him,” one 911 caller said.

McCoy’s mangled SUV was left wrapped around the front of the train.

On Thursday, we went back to that crossing and noticed people stopping either behind the safety mark on the road we did see at least one car’s bumper was over the tracks. But none were on the tracks like what investigators said lead to the deadly crash.

We spoke with FHP earlier this evening. They said they are still investigating. We’ve also reached out to McCoy’s family and have not heard back.

We reached out to Amtrak to get their remarks on this crash and we were sent the following statement:

"Local authorities are investigating the incident. Amtrak continues to cooperate fully to support the ongoing investigation. CSX, owner of the tracks, and the Federal Railroad Administration would be the source on safety protocols for the area.

"Amtrak is a partner with Operation Lifesaver, a national, non-profit safety education group whose goal is to eliminate deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along railroad rights of way. With programs in all 50 states, the organization has trained volunteers who provide free safety talks to community groups, school bus drivers, truck drivers and student drivers to raise awareness of the dangers around railroad tracks and trains.

"To accomplish its mission, Operation Lifesaver promotes 3 Es:

Education - Operation Lifesaver strives to increase public awareness about the dangers around the rails. The program seeks to educate both drivers and pedestrians to make safe decisions at crossings and around railroad tracks.

Engineering - Operation Lifesaver encourages continued engineering research and innovation to improve the safety of railroad crossings. 

Enforcement - Operation Lifesaver promotes active enforcement of traffic laws relating to crossing signs and signals and private property laws related to trespassing."

Cox Media Group