Man charged with hitting railroad workers

10/30/2013

BOWLING GREEN -- A Woodville man who allegedly drove into a construction zone at railroad tracks near Bradner, hitting three workers, has been charged with aggravated vehicular assault in the incident.

Cody Rickard, 26, was arraigned today in Bowling Green Municipal Court on the felony charge. Judge Mark Reddin ordered Mr. Rickard held in the Wood County jail in lieu of $75,000.

Three CSX employees who were doing maintenance on the tracks, south of the village, were hit about 11:20 a.m. Monday by a 2009 Dodge Charger driven by Mr. Rickard, according to the Wood County Sheriff's Office

Paul Castle, 34, of Paintsville, Ky., who was the most severely hurt in the accident, was listed in critical condition today in Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.

An affidavit filed in Municipal Court said Mr. Rickard drove around a single barricade at James Street and accelerated for about 350 feet into the construction zone, where he drove off the road around two barricades at the crossing, and struck two warning signs, a utility pole, and the three workers.