Coroner: Train Death Ruled Accidental

The Chester County Coroner’s Office has ruled the death of Roger D'ambrosio, 38, accidental and listed the cause of death as head injuries.

Phoenixville police returned yesterday to the scene after being hit by a Norfolk Southern train shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 20 in Phoenixville.

Det. Sgt. Joseph Nemic of the Phoenixville Police Department explained that the physical evidence at the point of contact on the tracks was consistent with the engineer’s statements. The man was asleep or unconscious at the time the train struck, according to Nemic.

“It was just a matter of them not being able to stop the train in time,” Nemic said.

The train, headed toward Harrisburg, was traveling at 35 miles per hour. D'ambrosio was situated just around a curve in the tracks, giving those controlling the train little time to stop.

“They were coming around a blind corner,” Nemic said. “They literally had seconds to apply the brakes.”

Nemic noted that nothing suspicious was found to indicate that the death was anything besides accidental.

While police haven’t been able to determine where D'ambrosio was prior to heading to the train tracks, Nemic said they did confirm his address, on Schuylkill Road in East Pikeland Township. A bicycle and backpack were found near his body, Nemic said.

The incident occurred 2,000 feet south of Columbia station on the easternmost Norfolk Southern track.

According to Chester County Chief Deputy Coroner David Garver, toxicology results for D'ambrosio likely won’t be available for seven to 10 days.