A former contestant on the 2013 season of the reality show “Survivor” was killed Tuesday while working on a coal train outside Birmingham, Ala.
Caleb Bankston was featured on the “Survivor: Blood vs. Water” series — along with his fiancé, Colton Cumbie, CBS reported. Mr. Bankston’s full-time job for the past seven months was as a conductor on the Alabama Warrior Railway, CNN reported.
Investigators aren’t releasing many details about the accident, except to say that it happened Tuesday and that a “safety stand down” kicked in on Wednesday — meaning, all workers had to attend classes “to ensure all team members understood that nothing is more important than their safety,” the railway said in a statement.
People Magazine, meanwhile, reported that Mr. Bankston, a train engineer, was killed when a train derailed at a portion of track in Birmingham.
Federal Railroad Administration officials were investigating at the scene, CNN reported.
“Once completed, our investigation will identify the root cause of the accident, and we will take all appropriate enforcement actions,” said Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Warren Flatau, CNN reported.
Mr. Bangston’s death shocked the current set of “Survivor” contestants, along with host and executive producer Jeff Probst.
“The entire ’Survivor’ crew is together in Nicaragua,” Mr. Probst said, Fox News reported. “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of Caleb. He was one of the most humble and likable contestants we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with on the show. A true gentleman. He will be missed by so many. We extend our most sincere condolences to his family and to his fiancé, Colton.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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