One dead, one injured in county railcar incident

Gonzales County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident which claimed the life of one man and sent another to a San Antonio hospital in serious condition Friday, May 2.

Deputies responded at about 7:30 a.m. Friday to an emergency call for assistance concerning two individuals who had lost consciousness inside a railcar at a leased area at the railroad yard at 1045 County Road 284 in Gonzales. Also responding was the Gonzales County Emergency Services District No. 1 EMS and other first responders.

According to Gonzales County Emergency Management coordinator Jimmy Harless, the men had been working on refurbishing the railcar as employees of Tactical Cleaning Co., an Illinois-based company with a Harwood location which does cleaning and flaring contract work.

One of the individuals was pronounced deceased at the scene by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Deidra Voigt, while the other was transported to BAMC Hospital, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, in serious condition. Voigt ordered an autopsy be performed on the deceased individual, whose name was not yet being released. The name of the injured individual also wasn’t being released yet at this time.

“On behalf of the men and women of the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office, we extend our sincerest condolences to the family affected by this unfortunate event,” Sheriff Keith Schmidt said. “We recognize the profound impact such tragedies have on families and the community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all individuals impacted by this unfortunate loss. Additionally, we wish the second individual a swift and complete recovery.”

Schmidt said the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office is conducting a comprehensive investigation of the incident. The GCSO is collecting information and evidence, and further details will be disseminated upon the successful conclusion of the investigation.