Former Iowa OL Kyle Calloway struck, killed by train
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former Iowa offensive lineman Kyle Calloway was struck and killed by a train on Saturday while jogging near railroad tracks in Tucson, Ariz.
Calloway was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 29 years old.
Deeply saddened to hear that my teammate Kyle Calloway has passed. Please send your prayers and love to his family and friends.
— Marvin McNutt (@McNutt7wr) July 5, 2016
According to a release by the Tucson Police Department, it was determined that Calloway was jogging westbound, on and off the tracks, when he was struck from behind by the westbound train.
“That was what he did for e1xercise,” Kyle’s father, Ed Calloway, told the Cedar Rapids Gazette on Tuesday. “He liked to run and it had rained the day before and the area where he ran was muddy, and so he was going back and forth across the tracks to get out of the mud.”
No other injuries were reported, and the cause of the collision is under investigation.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz released a statement on Tuesday shortly after learning about Calloway’s death.
"We are all stunned and very saddened to hear of the tragic accident claiming the life of Kyle Calloway,” Ferentz said. “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Kyle’s family and to those who knew him. He was a valued and respected member of our program.”
Calloway started 37 of his final 38 games for the Hawkeyes from 2007-2009, including 12 in 2009 for a team that finished 11-2, No. 7 in the final rankings and defeated Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Calloway, who played primarily right tackle in 2009, made second-team all-Big Ten in both 2008 and 2009. He started at guard in the Orange Bowl and was invited to the East-West Shrine Game.
Calloway also started all 13 games in 2008, including the 31-10 win over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl.
Calloway was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He moved to Arizona after he was released by the Bills.
His father told the Gazette that Calloway still followed the Iowa football team closely and had Iowa football decals on the front of his truck and an “Iowa Alum” sticker on the back window.