UPDATE on this story: Valdosta Gornto fatality — Melissa Johnson ID'd

Credit: Danny / Any County News · Sources: Valdosta Police Department & Georgia State Patrol via WALB; WCTV

ACN UPDATE graphic: Melissa Anne Johnson identified in Valdosta Gornto Road train fatality

UPDATE: The woman killed Friday night after being struck by a train on Gornto Road in Valdosta has been identified as Melissa Anne Johnson, 49, of Valdosta, according to the Valdosta Police Department and Georgia State Patrol (WALB).

What we know (WALB citing VPD / GSP):

Victim: Melissa Anne Johnson, 49, of Valdosta
Time: about 10:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
Location: 2400 block of Gornto Road, Valdosta
A Norfolk Southern employee called 911 after a train conductor reported striking a person
GSP: Norfolk Southern train traveling northbound; vehicle located a short distance from the tracks
Investigation turned over to Georgia State Patrol and Norfolk Southern
Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan called it a tragic event and offered thoughts and prayers for the family

Our morning report noted that the victim’s identity had not yet been released. This UPDATE carries the public identification reported by WALB.

Sources: WALB (published ~1:06 p.m. ET Sept. 19; later updated with victim ID); WCTV (Gornto Road fatality; GSP and Norfolk Southern investigating).

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Hosted on Any County News — Credit: Danny / Any County News. Duration ~88s.

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