Family mourns auto shop owner killed in FrontRunner accident

SUNSET — Family members of a man killed in a FrontRunner train accident remembered their loved one Tuesday.

Charles Dubose, 52, of West Haven, was the longtime owner of Charlie's Service and RV Repair, a business he had for more than 20 years. An employee who answered the phone Tuesday said everyone at the shop was in mourning Tuesday.

"He was a sweetheart," the woman said. "He helped everybody."

Similar sentiments were expressed by Dubose's family in a written statement.

"Charlie was a free spirit who was loved by all that knew him. He developed a great many friendships because of his willingness to do anything for anyone," the family wrote. "People naturally gravitated to him for his fun loving attitude and love for life. This loss has left a large hole in the lives of those that knew him, one that will not heal anytime soon."

Dubose was killed Monday night when his pickup was hit at a railroad crossing. Officials say he drove around the lowered crossing arms at 400 West near the Clinton-Sunset border. The oncoming train was going an estimated 79 mph when it struck Dubose.

The accident was the third fatal incident involving a FrontRunner train in the past year. The prior two involved pedestrians.

In April, a 14-year-old Clearfield boy walking to school was killed while attempting to cross in front of a train.

In August 2009, a 57-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by a slow-moving train near the Salt Lake Central Station, 200 South and 600 West.

Officials used the incident to plead to the public to not go around lowered crossing arms.

"Please, don't ever try," said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Harley Watkins. "Honestly, even if you're a big guy weighing 100, 200, even 300 pounds, you don't stand a chance versus a 200- to 300-ton train. You're going to lose. It never fails."

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com