A 66-year-old man was fatally struck by a train in Southeast Salem on Saturday morning. KPTV reports that the Salem Police Department responded to the incident near McGilchrist Street and Pringle Road SE after Union Pacific employees called in the collision at approximately 11 a.m.
Despite efforts by the train crew to halt the locomotive upon noticing the man on the tracks, their attempts proved futile, and the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. "The man, 66, did not move for 'unknown reasons' despite the crew trying to get his attention, as well as stop the train," as stated in a release obtained by KGW.
The incident prompted the closure of streets in both east and westbound directions across the railway, impacting traffic flow between McGilchrist and Mill Streets SE. The areas were cordoned off to the public until the investigation on the ground was concluded, and the train was later released from the scene around 2:30 p.m. Multiple sources, including KOIN, corroborated this information.
While the identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of family members, officials continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the tragic event. The motive for the man's presence on the tracks at the time of the incident remains unclear and under investigation.
