EASLEY, S.C. — Authorities have confirmed the death of a 71-year-old man who was struck by a train last week in Easley, an incident that initially left him critically injured and fighting for his life in the hospital. The Pickens County Coroner’s Office announced Tuesday, January 27, 2026, that the man died from complications related to his injuries, several days after the collision occurred.
According to Pickens County Coroner Andrew Wilson, first responders were dispatched on January 24 to the railroad tracks near Allen Street after reports of a pedestrian being hit by a train. Crews from Pickens County EMS, the Easley Fire Department, and the Easley Police Department responded to the scene. When they arrived, they found the victim seriously injured but still alive.
Emergency personnel provided medical treatment at the scene before transporting the man to Prisma Health–Greenville Memorial Hospital for further care. Officials said the injuries he sustained were severe, and he remained hospitalized in critical condition in the days following the incident. Despite ongoing medical efforts, his condition did not improve.
On January 27, hospital staff notified the Pickens County Coroner’s Office that the victim had died as a result of his injuries. The coroner identified the deceased as Gary Knight Sr., 71, of Easley. An examination determined that his cause of death was complications from multiple blunt force injuries sustained when he was struck by the train.
Details about how or why Knight was on or near the tracks at the time of the collision have not been released. Authorities have not said whether the train crew attempted emergency braking or sounded warnings before the impact, and it remains unclear if visibility, weather conditions, or other factors played a role in the incident.
The Easley Police Department and the Pickens County Coroner’s Office are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly collision. Officials said no additional information is available at this time, and further updates may be released once the investigation is complete.
Authorities are using the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with railroad tracks, urging the public to stay clear of rail lines and only cross tracks at designated areas. As the investigation continues, the Easley community is left mourning the loss of Gary Knight Sr., whose death highlights the serious risks pedestrians face around active railways.
