Osawatomie boy found by railroad tracks died from natural causes, autopsy says

A 15-year-old Kansas boy found dead alongside railroad tracks in Miami County appeared to have died from natural causes, according to authorities.

Keith Orr of Osawatomie was found by railroad workers about 2 miles southwest of Osawatomie about 5 p.m. Monday. He appeared to have been riding his bicycle on the railroad tracks, according to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.

Orr did not appear to have been hit by a train, the sheriff’s office said, citing preliminary autopsy results.

Orr had been with friends riding bicycles and reportedly said he did not feel well and headed home. Investigators believed the day’s high temperatures could have contributed to heat exhaustion and dehydration, leading to his death. Temperatures near Osawatomie reached about 96 degrees on Monday.

The case was still under investigation Tuesday.

Ian Cummings, icummings@kcstar.com

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Osawatomie boy found by railroad tracks died from natural causes, autopsy says."