Pinckneyville man dies from injuries sustained in truck/train accident

A 27-year-old Pinckneyville man died Monday afternoon in the St. Louis University Medical Center from injuries sustained in a 1:35 p.m. accident when his pickup truck was struck by a train at the intersection of Denny Road and Tanglefoot Road between Du Quoin and Pinckneyville.

The victim was Jeremy Nehrkorn. He and wife Brittny are the parents of a baby daughter. He is the son of Pinckneyville Ambulance Service board president John Nehrkorn and wife Donita.

The location, commonly called Denny Station, is just south of Rt. 154 almost halfway between Du Quoin and Pinckneyville behind Holt's Prairie Church.

Perry County Sheriff Keith Kellerman was the first officer at the scene. He and authorities were assisted by the Pinckneyville Ambulance Service and Pinckneyville Fire Department.

Preliminary investigation indicates the Canadian National train was southeast bound from St Louis to Du Quoin and Nehrkorn was north bound on Denny Road when the accident occurred on the crossing.

An investigation is continuing.

The crossing was marked, but did not benefit from flashing lights or crossing gates.

The truck was struck just forward of the driver's side door. The train's engine impacted the truck and threw it beyond the rail bed into a shallow ditch to the north.

First responders called for a medical evacuation helicopter because of his extensive injuries. The helicopter landed at the scene. Nehrkorn was flown directly to the St. Louis hospital and died later.

Meanwhile Canadian National Railroad personnel broke the train in half so first responders could work around the site. It later continued eastward.

The red 2005 Ford pickup truck was removed from the scene by Emling's Towing of Pinckneyville.