Dwayne Alton Bryant Obituary, Death, Clayton Police: Driver dies after attempting to bypass train crossing arms.
Dwayne Alton Bryant Obituary, Death – A tragic crash in Clayton on Monday claimed the life of a local resident after a vehicle collided with a Norfolk Southern cargo train. Authorities confirmed the victim as 62-year-old Dwayne Alton Bryant of Clayton. The deadly accident unfolded late in the morning, around 10:50 a.m., near the Clayton Post Office on Central Street, between Front Street and East Main Street.
According to Clayton Police, Bryant was driving a 2012 Toyota Corolla when he attempted to turn left from East Main Street onto Central Street. Despite the railroad crossing arms being lowered in both directions and warning lights flashing, investigators said the driver tried to maneuver around the barriers. As he crossed the tracks, his vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by an eastbound freight train.
The powerful impact caused the car to overturn and be dragged nearly 300 feet down the tracks before coming to a stop. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, but Bryant did not survive the collision. Authorities confirmed that no one aboard the train was injured during the incident.
Police noted that the entire event was captured on traffic cameras, and an investigation is still underway to determine the full circumstances that led to the fatal crash. Officials are also examining whether speed, visibility, or other factors may have played a role, though the lowered crossing arms and flashing lights suggest a clear warning was in place.
This tragedy marks the second fatal train-related accident in the same area of Clayton in just a few weeks. Earlier in August, 21-year-old Ellaryan Marie Miller of Wendell lost her life after being struck by a train nearby. Miller, a college student at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, had been working a summer internship in Clayton at the time of her death. Investigators reported that she had been walking to her car, which was parked on Front Street, when she attempted to cross the tracks and was hit.
Clayton Police Chief Greg Tart expressed deep concern over the repeated incidents, noting the dangers posed at this particular stretch of railway. He emphasized the importance of caution near train crossings, especially in areas with frequent rail traffic. Trains, he reminded residents, cannot stop quickly, and ignoring signals or barriers can have deadly consequences.
The recent string of tragedies has left the community shaken, with residents calling for renewed awareness and potentially stronger safety measures around the crossings. While train accidents of this nature remain relatively uncommon, when they do occur, they often result in devastating outcomes.
As the investigation into Bryant’s death continues, local officials are urging drivers and pedestrians to respect crossing signals and avoid risky decisions that can place lives in danger. The police department has not yet indicated whether any additional safety measures will be implemented at the site, but the repeated fatalities highlight ongoing concerns about the area’s rail crossings.
Both Bryant and Miller’s deaths serve as somber reminders of the need for vigilance around railroad tracks, reinforcing the life-saving importance of following signals and barriers without exception.
