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Champaign County child, 9, struck and killed by freight train while riding bike to school

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ROYAL — A 9-year-old child who was riding a bike to school was struck and killed by a freight train Friday in central Illinois, police said.

Late Friday, the Champaign County Coroner’s office identified the child as Easton D. Wilsey.

The child was struck in the village of Royal about 7:45 a.m. in “close proximity” to other people who were not injured, said Lt. Curt Apperson of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.

Apperson called it a “tragic accident.” Wilsey was struck along tracks about two blocks from Prairieview-Ogden North Elementary, The News-Gazette of Champaign reported.

Prairieview-Ogden Superintendent Jeff Isenhower said grief counselors would be present at all three district schools Friday in Royal, Flatville and Ogden.

The village of Royal is located about 10 miles northeast of Champaign.

Editor’s note: The article was updated with the child’s name after it was released from the office of the Champaign County Coroner.

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