The 22-year old Cornelia man who was killed Friday night when he was hit by a train in Alto has been identified as Tobie Saifone Thonetheva.
Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire released the name this afternoon. He says, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Thonetheva family at this difficult time.”
Thonetheva was walking alongside the railroad tracks near Mount Vernon Mills when he was killed.
Trooper 1st Class Aaron Walden of the Georgia State Patrol Post in Toccoa says he “was walking eastbound on the railroad ties approximately 1 foot to the north side of the metal tracks. The locomotive, unable to stop, struck the pedestrian with its front left.”
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Thonetheva then traveled approximately 200 feet east where his body came to a final rest.
The area of impact was on the railroad tracks approximately 1,000 feet east of Mount Vernon Mill Road.
Walden says it’s believed Thonetheva was on his cellphone at the time of impact.
