Body of Kansas boy who was struck, killed by train is recovered from river
The body of a 12-year-old boy who was struck and killed by a train Wednesday in southeast Kansas has been recovered.
Shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday first responders pulled the body of Kollin Showalter out of the Neosho River at the KGE dam a couple of miles south of U.S. 400 in Labette County, Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor said Sunday.
His body was turned over to the Neosho County coroner.
Showalter was one of two boys who were killed Wednesday after being struck by a train. The other victim was 16-year-old Arthur Pollries.
Neosho County 911 received a call early Wednesday afternoon from Union Pacific Railroad saying that two people had been struck by a train on the Neosho River railroad bridge, roughly 2 miles south of Erie, the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
The two boys, who were friends, were walking along a railroad bridge when they attempted to outrun the southbound train. It is unknown why the two boys were out there.
Authorities arrived and found Pollries’ body, and a search was launched to find Showalter’s body, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
“Unfortunately after reviewing the footage and physical evidence at the scene, the search went from hopeful rescue effort to a recovery effort,” a NCSO news release said.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks was asked to help in the search and brought in a drone and boat. The KHP sent troopers, a helicopter and search dogs.
Showalter was from Erie, and Pollries was from Walnut. The two were also students in the Erie-Galesburg school district.
“This has been a very hard week for everyone involved. I want to express my gratitude to every first responder and our community who contributed to our recovery efforts,” Taylor said.
Erie, near where the incident occurred, is a town of roughly 1,047 about 122 miles east of Wichita.