Atlanta — A well-regarded personal trainer was struck and killed by a freight train in Buckhead on Tuesday afternoon. The 30-year-old Travis Williams, who went by the name of Achilles Williams, was making a video for his YouTube channel at the time of the accident.
He and a friend were near the train tracks over Roxboro Road near East Paces Ferry. Williams was being filmed jumping rope near the train tracks. According to investigators, he was not on the tracks but apparently miscalculated the width of an oncoming train by the span of the tracks. He was hit by the freight train as it passed by. His friend was not harmed but was knocked down by the impact.
Friends and admirers of the fitness trainer took to social media to post thoughts and words honoring Williams using the hashtag #RIPAchilles. A GoFundMe account has been created to help pay for funeral arrangements and to help support the 6-year-old daughter he’s left behind.
Achilles posted his last Instagram video message on Monday
Williams’ death is eerily similar to that of another health icon earlier this year. Fitness model and actor George Gregory Plitt Jr. was filming a promotional workout video when he was killed by a train just outside Los Angeles.