Detectives with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office have determined the death of nine year old Timothy Wallace was the result of being struck by a north bound Norfolk Southern train.

The victim was reported missing last night at approximately 10:00 p.m. from his aunts home located at 520 Leggett Road in Sale Creek. The child was described by relatives as suffering from autism and was non-verbal. A search was initiated by deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Sale Creek Fire Department along with STARS. He was found deceased next to the train tracks close to Coulterville Road around 11:00 p.m.

The investigators found during the investigation the operators of the train were unaware that the train had struck the child. Weather conditions at the time of this incident made the search extremely difficult with heavy rain, fog along with the rural, unlit area.

The investigation remains on-going.