The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation after a man was fatally hit by a CSX train Tuesday morning, July 15, 2025.

Deputies were dispatched to the railroad tracks south of Norman Lane in Auburndale at approximately 5:32 am.

The victim, identified as 33-year old Steven Dylan Scott of Auburndale, was found deceased with blunt force trauma to his head, torso, and legs.

The investigation determined that the CSX train was traveling east at about 28 mph.

The train’s engineer saw Mr. Scott sitting on the ground, slumped over, with his feet hanging outward over the tracks. The train’s horn was used to warn Mr. Scott of the advancing train, but there was no reaction from him.

Mr. Scott was found to be in possession of a large amount of a crystal-like substances that tested positive for both methamphetamine and fentanyl.

An autopsy was completed by the Medical Examiner’s Office, which showed signs of a possible drug overdose, however the cause and manner of death is pending toxicology results.

Due to the train remaining stopped during the preliminary investigation, Recker Highway was closed near Derby Avenue in Auburndale for approximately three and a half hours.

The investigation is ongoing.