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A man who worked on the railroad for more than 40 years died when a train smashed into his SUV in Knox County Tuesday afternoon.

Police say a CSX train slammed into Delmer Bright's SUV at a crossing on Cumberland Avenue in Barbourville around 1 p.m.

Tonya Liford witnessed the accident.

"The arms actually started coming down as he was crossing the tracks," she said. "He didn't have an opportunity to get out of the way before the impact."

Liford tried to help.

"All I could do was get behind him and hold him, hold him straight up and just talk to him," she said. "I was there when he took his last breath."

Family members say Bright, 83, went to work on the railroad at the age of 15. He served in the U.S. Army before returning to the railroad. He retired just a few years ago.

"I guess the Lord chose to take him home. We'll miss him. We know he's in a better place, but we will miss him," his daughter Brenda Frazier said.

CSX railroad officials continue to investigate the accident.