2 Struck By DCTA A-Train In Unauthorized Area
HICKORY CREEK (CBSDFW.COM) – One person was killed and another hurt when they were struck by a Denton County Transportation Authority A-Train while walking in an unauthorized area near Lake Lewisville Saturday afternoon, said DCTA spokesman Dee Leggett.
Denton County spokesman Tom Reedy said the victims are a man and his early thirties and a woman in her late twenties. The man died from his injuries at about 5:38 p.m. The scene was just south of Lake Dallas on Interstate 35E.
The two were walking on the train tracks on the bridge crossing the lake, Reedy said. The conductor saw them and honked his horn. The two then tried to outrun the train. After they were hit, Reedy said they fell into knee deep water near the north shore of Lake Lewisville.
When they were pulled out, the woman was conscious and breathing while the man was unconscious, Reedy said.
CareFlite flew one individual to Parkland Memorial Hospital while the other victim was taken to Medical Center of Plano.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and their families," Leggett said. "This unfortunate incident reinforces the importance of community education about rail safety."
The train was delayed about an hour before returning to service. There were seven passengers on the train, none witnessed the accident.
Since starting service last June, the DCTA train has been involved in seven collisions. Three of those involved pedestrians, the rest were with motor vehicles.
