A father who was crossing train tracks in Adelaide’s north was killed when he was hit by a freight train late last month.
Brian Garven, 40, was crossing the tracks near the Salisbury Interchange, on May 29 at 6.30pm when he was hit by a train.
His former partner, Kellie Trinidad, called it a “freak accident” and said Garven was on the phone with her at the time of the crash.
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She said Garven was on the way to her house to bring her painkillers.
“He said I’m 15 minutes in Salisbury, I’ll be home soon, then the phone cut out. A couple of seconds later, I could hear the freight train horn,” Trinidad said.
“I tried to call him back, but the phone wouldn’t answer, kept going to message bank.”
About two hours later, police officers arrived at Trinidad’s door to advise her Garven was dead.
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport and South Australia Police said the crossing infrastructure was operational on the day of the incident.
“We always remind pedestrians to observe safety precautions at all times around rail lines and to ensure they cross tracks at the designated crossing areas,” a department spokesperson said.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Trinidad said her ex had been homeless since 2017 when they broke up.
She said Garven had five children and wanted him to be remembered as a “kind and loving father”.
Trinidad has set up an online fundraiser to give Garven a funeral.
“I’m only on a disability support pension myself and (with) the cost of living, I don’t have nothing,” she said.
“(It’s to) give him a proper goodbye, that’s what anyone deserves.”