Train Accident Claims the Life of 16-year-old

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Story Published: May 9, 2008 at 10:30 AM EDT

Story Updated: May 9, 2008 at 7:26 PM EDT

By Kyla Igoe

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The Town of Ripley is now mourning the loss of 16-year-old Kenneth Strang. Police say Strang and four other people were walking across a set of train tracks on Goodrich Street. His four other companions had crossed the tracks, but Strang was hit by the train.

"We have to get to all of the witnesses first before we can really determine what the motivation was," said Chautauqua County Sherrif Joseph Gerace. "It could be just a terrible misjudgment, or to see who could get the closest to the train."

Strang was quickly taken to a local hospital but later died from his injuries. Today, Strang's school is coping with the loss.

"We have a number of counselors available to deal with the students in our building who are grieving and some of the staff members who had an attachment to ken," said Superintendent of Ripley Central School John Hogan.

A close teacher to Ken says he was always full of life.

"He was a wonderfully smart, intelligent, joyful, full of fun young man," said Supervisor Una Raimondo.

The accident is still under investigation and police hope they can find out why Strang was crossing train tracks after the crossing lights and train horn sounded.

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