Investigators said the driver tried to pull a woman from a stalled car before a CSX train struck.
SCOTTDALE, Ga. — Brent Davis called his father just before 2 a.m. to say his car had stopped on train tracks in DeKalb County, then promised to call back. Minutes later, investigators said, a CSX freight train struck the vehicle, killing Davis and leaving a woman passenger critically injured.
Authorities say the car was stopped at the North Clarendon Avenue and East Ponce de Leon Avenue railroad crossing early Feb. 10, in a busy corridor near Avondale Estates. Davis, 38, was driving. Investigators say he spent his final moments trying to get the passenger out before the train arrived, a detail that has shaped how his family and friends are remembering him.
Davis’ father, Stanley Davis, said the last conversation came at 1:52 a.m., when his son sounded calm despite the danger. “1:52 a.m. in the morning, and not panicky or anything and said, ‘Dad, I’m stuck on the train tracks. My car just stopped,’” Stanley Davis recalled in an interview. “And before I could say anything else, he said, ‘Let me call you back.’” Stanley Davis said the call back never came. Investigators said the train hit the vehicle near North Clarendon Avenue a few minutes later, after Davis had tried to help the woman escape.
DeKalb County officials have not said why the car was on the tracks, and they have not publicly identified the woman who was hurt. A county spokesperson, Blaine Clark, said preliminary information indicates the vehicle was stopped at the crossing and the driver was trying to help the passenger get out before impact. Police said Davis died at the scene. The woman was taken to a hospital and was described by family members as being in critical condition. Authorities have not released an updated medical condition in public briefings this week.
CSX, the railroad operator, said the collision happened at about 1:56 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the N. Clarendon Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue crossing in Scottdale. The company said there were two occupants in the vehicle and that none of the crew on the train were injured. In its statement, CSX offered condolences to those affected and said it would support law enforcement during the investigation. Officials said the intersection was shut down overnight as crews worked the scene, removed debris and tested signals and gates, then reopened later that morning.
Family members said they are still trying to understand how the night unfolded and why the car stopped where it did. Stanley Davis said he did not know what caused the car to stall, describing the only recent issues as tires that needed to be replaced. The family said they were not familiar with the woman who was in the car, adding to the uncertainty as they tried to piece together the moments before the crash. Investigators have not said whether the driver attempted to move the vehicle, how long it was stopped on the tracks, or what the driver and passenger did in the final seconds before the collision.
In the days since the crash, Davis’ relatives have leaned on a single point they say is clear: he tried to help someone else, even when there was little time. “This is something I know he would’ve did for anyone,” his father said, describing his son as a leader and a family man, one of six siblings who often put others first. In another message addressed to his son, Stanley Davis said he had no second thoughts about the decision Davis made, calling it “the right decision,” even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
The wreck also drew attention in a community accustomed to heavy traffic, nearby neighborhoods and frequent rail crossings. Scottdale sits along a stretch where rail lines cut through commercial areas and residential streets, and the Clarendon-Ponce de Leon crossing is a familiar landmark for many commuters. Local reports from the scene described extensive damage to the driver’s side of the car, while the train appeared to remain on the tracks. Atlanta News First reported the train stopped on the tracks for about two hours after the collision before rail operations resumed.
Officials have described the investigation as ongoing, and they have not released a final report on what led to the car’s position on the tracks. In early accounts, CSX crews were seen at the crossing after the crash, testing equipment. Atlanta News First reported that crossing arms appeared down after the collision and that crews appeared to test and make repairs, while the company had not confirmed in those reports how the gates were functioning before impact. Police have not said whether mechanical issues, driver error, road conditions, or another factor played a role.
Davis’ family has started a fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses, describing the death as unexpected and focusing on the way he lived as much as how he died. Loved ones said they hope people remember Davis for his everyday character — his steady presence, his willingness to help, and the way he showed up for others — not only for a single moment on the tracks.
For now, the public picture of the case remains limited to early timelines and family recollections: a stalled car, a short phone call, and an attempt to pull someone to safety before a freight train arrived. Investigators have not announced any charges, and they have not provided a projected date for a final determination on the cause.
Author note: Last updated February 19, 2026.