Kannapolis woman identified as driver killed in train collision

Published 3:00 pm Monday, December 16, 2019

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The N.C. Highway Patrol has identified 84-year-old Dawn Stewart Brown as the driver who was killed Sunday morning in a collision with a train near Webb Road. Troopers are also asking anyone who may have seen Brown prior to the collision to contact them.

The crash occurred about 242 feet south of Webb Road on the railroad tracks, said Highway Patrol spokesman Ned Moultrie. Brown was traveling in a 2005 Subaru station wagon around 11:58 a.m. when the vehicle was struck by a train.

Moultrie said the crash remains under investigation.

Trooper D.R. Morgan, who investigated the collision, said it was believed that Brown was headed home from St. Paul’s Church and according to her family, she would’ve likely taken Webb Road to avoid construction traffic.

Morgan spoke with Brown’s daughter who told him she typically wanted to avoid exit 68 and began taking Webb Road and would then turn left on U.S. 29 to head home.

He said Brown turned onto the railroad tracks and they are working to determine why.

“Her right front and rear wheel were inside the track,” Morgan said.

The Highway Patrol is looking for any motorist who may have been traveling behind her before she turned onto the railroad tracks.

Anyone with information about what may have happened prior to the collision is asked to contact the Highway Patrol at 704-639-7574 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.