Tragic Train Accident Claims Life of Effingham Resident Travis Ingram

On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 4:44 PM, a devastating incident unfolded at the Jefferson St. railroad crossing in downtown Effingham, Illinois, when a bicyclist was struck by a northbound Canadian National Freight train. The Effingham City Police Department responded promptly to the scene, where they found an unresponsive male near the tracks. Emergency personnel from Rural Med EMS transported the individual to HSHS St. Anthony Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 5:17 PM. The victim was later identified as Travis D. Ingram, a 34-year-old resident of Effingham.

Preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation suggest that Mr. Ingram was riding his bicycle westward across the tracks when the collision occurred. Authorities noted that he was wearing headphones, potentially preventing him from hearing the approaching train, and that the crossing—equipped with lights and gates—is a designated "quiet zone" where train horns are not sounded. The Effingham City Police Department, Effingham County Coroner’s Office, and Canadian National Railroad continue to investigate this tragic event, while the conductor and engineer of the train remain uninjured.