Man On Train Tracks Struck, Killed In Fairfield
FAIRFIELD (CBS SF) -- A 21-year-old Solano County man was walking on the train tracks in Fairfield Tuesday when he was struck and killed by a passenger train at 1:35 p.m., police said.
The man was walking in an industrial area near the 2200 block of Huntington Drive when the train struck him, Fairfield police Officer Cleo Mayoral said.
Train employees observed the man walking with his back to the train, but despite sounding horns and activating breaks, they were unable to alert the pedestrian or stop the train in time, Mayoral said.
The employees aboard the eastbound Amtrak commuter train were only able to slow the train from approximately 79 mph to 50 mph, Mayoral said.
Mayoral explained that the weight and speed of the passenger trains require a great distance to stop.
Headphones were found at the point of impact, but police were not able to confirm if the man was wearing them at the time, Mayoral said.
Police are reminding residents that it is a criminal offense to walk on the train tracks and urge residents to stay off them.
Police also urge individuals who disregard the law and walk on the tracks to be aware of the directions trains are traveling, never compromise hearing by listening to music on headphones and to walk next to the tracks, not directly on them.
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