Royal Gorge Route conductor dies after falling out train carriage into Colorado gorge

Publish date: 2024-06-21

The female train conductor who died after falling from a moving train married the love of her life on the same vehicle just seven months ago.

Leslie Cacy, 28, fell off the back of the Royal Gorge Railroad train at around 5.30pm on Saturday - just minutes before the end of her shift - and died instantly when she was run over.

The train was passing over the Arkansas River en route back to Canon City near Colorado Springs, where Cacy was based.      

Her friends and loved ones have since been paying tribute to a 'truly one of a kind person' who 'lit up a room with her unwavering smile'.

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Leslie Cacy (right, with her husband Devon), 28, was standing in a door opening on the back of the Royal Gorge Railroad train when she fell and was run over around four miles from Canon City, Colorado

Leslie Cacy (right, with her husband Devon), 28, was standing in a door opening on the back of the Royal Gorge Railroad train when she fell and was run over around four miles from Canon City, Colorado

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Fremont County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the death around four miles from the next station.

Cacy was standing in a door opening at the back of the train as it backed into the station when she fell, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office confirmed. It had previously been reported that she plummeted more than 1,000ft into a gorge.

Passenger Cynthia Brier told of seeing the train's engineer in a state of shock shortly after tragedy struck.

She told KKTV News: 'We saw the engineer of the train, he was in the grass next to the train holding his head screaming. 

'There were people running over to him and assisting him, helping him stand up. Then it became apparent something really bad had happened.'

The Fremont County coroner says Cacy is from the Cañon City area and she will be undergo an autopsy next week. 

Her friends and loved ones have since been paying tribute to a 'truly one of a kind person' who 'lit up a room with her unwavering smile

Her friends and loved ones have since been paying tribute to a 'truly one of a kind person' who 'lit up a room with her unwavering smile

Leslie (left) met her husband Devon (righ) on the very train she died on eight years ago

Leslie (left) met her husband Devon (righ) on the very train she died on eight years ago

Passenger Cynthia Brier told of seeing the train's engineer in a state of shock shortly after tragedy struck

Passenger Cynthia Brier told of seeing the train's engineer in a state of shock shortly after tragedy struck

The Ray High School graduate married Devon Cacy in October - eight years after meeting him on the very train she died on.

They have been happily married ever since and lived together in Canon City, Colorado, the Caller Times reported.

Her and Devon's family have started a memorial fund in her honor, which has already raised more than $7,000.

In a joint statement on the website, they wrote: 'Leslie is one of those people who always lit up a room with her unwavering smile and never shied away from lending a helping hand to anyone.

'The kind of person who loved incredibly deeply and saw the very best in everyone. She is truly a one-of-a-kind person.' 

Her friend of 15 years, Aubrey Villarreal-Ortiz, told the Caller Times: 'She was beautiful inside and out.

The Royal Gorge Route train is an attraction in Canon City and it takes passengers under the Royal Gorge Bridge

The Royal Gorge Route train is an attraction in Canon City and it takes passengers under the Royal Gorge Bridge

'She could always put a smile on my face in the worst times and make me laugh.'

The Royal Gorge Route train is an attraction in Canon City and it takes passengers under the Royal Gorge Bridge.

It has been running for 13 years, offering passengers sprawling views of the mountainous landscape.

Around 150 people were on board when Cacy fell into the Gorge, KOAA reported.

The passengers were still on the halted train as of 10pm as rescue workers were dispatched to reach them, according to KOAA.   

It is not clear how the incident will affect train routes and safety conditions going forward. 

Lieutenant Detective Robert Dodd of the Fremont County Sheriff's Office told KOAA: 'We're going to maintain control of it until our investigation is done.

'But I can't say if the federal authorities will want to extend that shut down or not.'

Tragic: Leslie Cacy fell out the train at 5.30pm on Saturday as it went over the Royal Gorge route (stock image)

Tragic: Leslie Cacy fell out the train at 5.30pm on Saturday as it went over the Royal Gorge route (stock image)

Route: The Gorge, which is as deep as 1,200 feet in some parts, traverses the Arkansas River

Route: The Gorge, which is as deep as 1,200 feet in some parts, traverses the Arkansas River

A former colleague posted on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page paying tribute to Cacy.

A Royal Gorge Route spokesman said: 'We are absolutely devastated by the loss of our team member who died yesterday in an accident on the train.

'We are a family run business, and our team members are like family to us. Our hearts are broken. We will share more information as soon as we have it.'

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