Coroner: Charleroi dirt bike rider killed in train collision in Washington County

Jeff Himler | Tuesday, September 6, 2022 4:51 p.m.

Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

A Charleroi man was killed Tuesday when the dirt bike he was riding was struck by a train in Charleroi.

James Gaito, 36, was the sole person riding the bike, according to Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco. Gaito was not wearing a helmet when the collision occurred at about noon at the Fifth Street crossing of the Norfolk Southern Railway, Warco said.

Gaito was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:20 p.m. Rulings on the cause and manner of death are pending results of an autopsy and investigation.

State police said Gaito was riding the bike east on Fifth before turning right at the railroad crossing, proceeding between the tracks and the Rite Aid pharmacy at 101 Fifth St. Gaito then turned around between the building and the tracks, police said, and, as the bike re-entered Fifth, it was struck in a sideswipe collision with the train.

Norfolk Southern police also are taking part in the investigation, Warco said.

Rostraver EMS, Charleroi Regional Police and the Charleroi Fire Department assisted at the scene.