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Cause of death in East Liverpool train incident still unknown

EAST LIVERPOOL — It may take weeks to learn what led to an East Liverpool man’s death Tuesday.

According to Brandi Phillips, chief investigator for the county coroner’s office, no autopsy was done on 45-year-old James Franklin Jr.; however, officials are waiting for toxiology results to return from a laboratory before declaring an official cause and manner of Franklin’s death.

City police answered a call shortly before 4:30 a.m. Tuesday on the west side of the city, after Norfolk Southern officials reported that a person had been lying on the tracks in a fetal position and was ran over by a locomotive.

The coroner and ambulance responded, and the man, who was identified as Franklin, was taken to the city morgue and then to a Newell, W.Va., funeral home, where services will be held later this week.

Upon the results leading to do a ruling, Phillips explained that both city and Norfolk Southern police as well as the health department will be notified.

Attempts to contact Norfolk Southern officials Tuesday afternoon were unsuccessful.

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