Bicyclist who was hit by train in town center dies at hospital

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

A Hickory bicyclist who was struck by a train Monday died overnight at an Asheville hospital, police said Tuesday.

Mack Junior Johnson, 53, of Hickory was riding his bike Monday morning through a parking lot in Union Square, Hickory's city center, while a train was passing through.

Witnesses said Johnson was riding on the sidewalk toward the train when his front wheel jerked and he fell off the bike. He fell to the ground, said witness Justin Cornett, and was hit in the head by the passing train.

Johnson died in the trauma unit at Mission Hospital in Asheville, police said Tuesday.

Johnson was regularly seen riding his bike in downtown, around the soup kitchen and sitting in Union Square, said Hickory resident Kathy Brewer, who was picking up a prescription Monday not far from the accident.

"He's been around here for years," Brewer said, "and he always greeted you. He was a pretty nice man, real friendly."

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