BLOOMINGTON - A 26-year-old Bloomington man struck by a passenger train in April may have been listening to music as he walked down the center of train tracks, according to testimony Thursday at a coroner's inquest.

Jason M. Wells, of the 1000 block of South Lee Street, died as a result of an avoidable accident, the coroner's jury ruled.

McLean County Sheriff Sgt. Jon Sandage testified that Wells' body was found near Miller and Pancake streets after the accident.

A railroad worker who saw the accident told police Wells "never attempted to get out of the way and never acknowledged the train," said Sandage.

A friend who saw Wells said he took an MP3 player and was listening to music as he left for the walk to an appointment in downtown Bloomington on the morning he died.

Wells may have been wearing headphones and a hooded shirt. Authorities found an MP3 with its power still on at the scene, but no headphones.

McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling told the jury, "I can't tell you for certain he was listening to music."

Wells was in good spirits and was looking forward to a job interview later in the day, witnesses told police.

Deputy Coroner David Killian testified that Amtrak officials shared information they retrieved from a video of the accident recorded on the passenger train, which traveling about 60 mph when railroad personnel saw Wells on the tracks.

The train's engineer applied the brakes but could not stop in time, said Killian.

Toxicology reports indicated the presence of nicotine and THC, the primary substance that produces the effects of marijuana. McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling said while the amount of THC indicated recent use, she was not indicating that Wells had used a large amount of the drug.

The coroner's office performed sound tests after the accident to re-create the volume of the train's horn as it approached Wells. Test showed the horn's volume level at 125 decibels, compared to a volume range of 85 to 100 decibels for the MP3 player, said Killian.

Killian noted that the train tracks are commonly used by residents of the area as a direct route to downtown. Anyone walking on the tracks is trespassing on railroad property.

Accident near Cooksville

In another coroner's case, jurors ruled the death of Sara Cummins as accidental.

Cummins, 19, of Normal, died April 19 in a car-pickup truck accident in rural Cooksville. The jury issued a recommendation that rumble strips be installed at the intersection of county roads 1900 North and 2600 East, where Cummins collided with a truck.