GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A man died Friday evening after being hit by a train in Greenville County.

The accident happened on tracks near the intersection of North Pleasantburg Drive and Worley Road at about 8 p.m.

The train’s engineer radioed for help, police said. He told authorities that he saw the man walking on an empty track, but he was set to change tracks and tried to warn the victim by flashing his lights and sounding his horn.

Police said it appeared that the man did not realize he was in the train’s path. Greenville County deputies said the man was about 6 inches from safety.

They identified the victim as 33-year-old Scott Vaughn Goranson.

Police warned everyone that it’s against the law to walk on railroad tracks. It takes at least a mile for a train to stop. Police said the engineer did not have time to avoid the victim.

"Well, it is against the law to walk on railroad tracks," said Lt. Tim Ridgeway of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. "The best thing we could tell people is never walk on railroad tracks. Even if you see two or three tracks, you can't tell if you're on a safe track or not."

The Federal Railroad Police are also investigating the accident.

A coroner said Goranson died from blunt force trauma.