LULA — The death of a pedestrian struck by a train Thursday afternoon in Lula appears to be a suicide, according to a preliminary investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
The finding is pending confirmation through an autopsy by the medical examiner.
Deputies and Hall County Fire Rescue were dispatched at approximately 3 p.m. Thursday to the intersection of McLeod Street and Main Street, where a man was struck by a Norfolk Southern train and died at the scene.
Authorities have identified the man as Douglas Michael Fadool, 64, of Lula.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office responded to the scene, and Norfolk Southern Railway temporarily halted train traffic in the area during the investigation. The intersection was closed for approximately two and a half hours and reopened around 5:30 p.m.
Officials said the incident occurred in a public area during daylight hours and resulted in a road closure. Typically, the sheriff’s office does not proactively release the names of individuals in suicide cases. However, due to the public nature of this incident, authorities included the man’s identity in the update.
The investigation remains ongoing pending final confirmation from the medical examiner.
