A MARTA train in Atlanta struck and killed an individual who was on the tracks Thursday morning, causing a temporary suspension of service in the area. The incident occurred near Candler Park Station, where MARTA officials confirm the person was trespassing on the tracks when hit by the westbound train after 9 a.m., as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Emergency responders transported the individual to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Initial reports appeared to quickly classify the event as an accidental death, but officials believe that the person may intentionally have gone onto the tracks to kill themselves. The rail power was shut off to allow MARTA police to securely investigate the crash scene, subsequently causing disruptions to morning commuters;
As a result, MARTA provided bus transportation to bridge the affected stretch of the network between Candler Park and Avondale stations. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, MARTA spokeswoman Stephany Fisher stated the death has been ruled a suicide. The incident led to a shutdown lasting approximately three hours before rail service could to be restored around noon.
During the temporary suspension of train operations, MARTA police alongside DeKalb County firefighters converged on the vicinity at the intersection of DeKalb Avenue and Rocky Ford Road, where the raised MARTA tracks stand above the street level. Activity was reported throughout the morning as emergency and law enforcement vehicles lined Rocky Ford Road to manage the scene and facilitate the subsequent investigation into the events that led up to the collision.
