JASPER – Police say a Jasper man crossing railroad tracks was killed when he was struck by a Norfolk Southern freight train traveling through downtown Jasper.

Assistant Police Chief Danny Patton said 47-year-old Steven Lee Shanklin walked in front of the train at 9 a.m. Monday as he apparently was heading home.

Patton said officers interviewed several witnesses who said Shanklin walked around a crossing gate, jumped over the first set of tracks and began walking across the second set before he finally looked up.

Police were told that Shanklin had just sold some aluminum cans at a nearby recycling site, bought a loaf of bread at a store and was apparently walking home.