A track maintenance employee died Tuesday while performing railroad tie replacement in Roanoke Rapids.

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Shane Guyant said the employee was not local and at the request of the employee’s family the police department is not releasing his name.

The workplace fatality occurred at the East Tenth Street rail crossing across from Clayton Homes shortly before 1:45 p.m.

Guyant said CSX was doing railroad tie replacement “and during the process there was an accident and the employee died as a result of the injuries.”

While CSX has not yet responded to telephone and email inquiries by rrspin.com today, the company said in a statement to WRAL, "CSX confirms that a track maintenance employee was fatally injured while performing his duties in Roanoke Rapids ... Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. We are doing everything we can to support them at this time. The incident is under investigation."

The Federal Railroad Administration also told the TV station it is investigating the employee on duty death as it does all railroad employee fatalities. 

The administration does not issue preliminary findings or make initial cause determinations.