Maybe I’m getting cynical but if he did it on purpose will the family sue for wrongful death?
Most trains don’t go very fast in congested areas and I was taught as as child to look both ways.
Trains typically don’t hit you unless you are on the track as opposed to walking on the siding. It’s not like they can switch lanes to avoid an accident. And depending on the inertia it might take more that a 1/2 mile to stop.
Drugs,booze or deliberate. I doubt the engineer woke up that morning and said I hope I run over someone today.
I spoke to a retired commercial airline pilot friend last night and in the course of the conversation he said there were only two things I am good at. Milking cows (has a farm) and flying planes. I replied that there are three things you are good at, milking cows, takeoffs and landings. The last two is where it typically counts the most.