Student found dead near railroad tracks

A 34-year-old IU student was found dead Wednesday afternoon near train tracks close to Eigenmann Hall.

The Monroe County coroner determined the cause of death of Donald R. Kidwell to be a suicide.

Kidwell, a junior and general studies major, was discovered at about 1:55 p.m.

Wednesday about 50 yards east of the intersection of Union Street and the railroad tracks, said IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger.

Minger said IUPD believes the accident happened at about 1 p.m.

The conductor of the train told IUPD he did not see anything on the tracks and the train was moving relatively slow, Minger said.

A woman called the police when she found the body.

The Indiana Rail Road company was asked to divert railroad traffic from the location until about 3:10 p.m. Wednesday when the scene was cleared, according to an IUPD press release.

Kidwell was pronounced dead at the scene at about 2:30 p.m.

After being transported to Bloomington Hospital, the coroner, David Toumey, ruled the death to be a suicide.

Counselors from IU have spoken with the woman who called police and are available to other students who might have been witnesses, said Dean of Students Dick McKaig.

This was Kidwell’s first semester at IU Bloomington, McKaig said. He previously attended IU-Purdue University Indianapolis.

IUPD contacted Kidwell’s family Wednesday.