Woman Killed In Collision With SMART Train In Santa Rosa
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) – A woman was struck and killed by a Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit train carrying commuters in Santa Rosa Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
The collision was reported at 7:36 a.m. near railroad tracks in the Hearn Avenue area of south Santa Rosa.
Witnesses told Santa Rosa police that the woman was standing on the tracks on the north side of Hearn Avenue when the train approached.
The woman, who was severely injured and unresponsive, was found on the dirt shoulder of the west side of the tracks about 100 feet south of Hearn Avenue, Sgt. Summer Black said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has been identified as 64-year-old Marion Harrison of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa police said the death was being investigated as a suicide.
The train stopped south of the collision site, and none of the passengers on board were injured.
The woman was standing on the tracks at the railroad crossing on the north side of Hearn Avenue. The train engineer sounded the train horn before the collision but did not have time to stop before striking the victim, Black said.
Witnesses said all train crossing controls appeared to be functioning correctly at the time, according to Black.
SMART personnel inspected the train, which did not return to its normal route, along with the tracks and the crossing arms before Hearn Avenue was reopened to traffic, Black said.
Foul play is not suspected and an autopsy is pending, Black said. It was the first fatality involving a SMART train. Full service began in August.
Anyone who saw the collision is asked to contact Santa Rosa police Officer Jeff Woods at (707) 543-3636.
© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
