A man was killed today after being struck by a freight train in East Oakland, marking the second deadly rail collision in the area in less than 24 hours. The crash happened in the pre-dawn hours, and emergency crews pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Investigators said they are still working to learn why the man was on the tracks.
Freight Train Collision at 60th and San Leandro
According to The Mercury News, the collision occurred at about 2:54 AM at 60th Avenue and San Leandro Street. An eastbound Union Pacific freight train struck a man who was reportedly sitting on the rails. The train stayed at the location while officials examined the scene, and no one aboard the freight train was injured, the outlet reported.
Earlier Fatality in the Fruitvale Area
Less than a day earlier, city workers clearing parts of an encampment near 37th Avenue and East 9th Street in the Fruitvale district saw a person on the tracks who was then struck by an Amtrak train, SFGATE reported. That person was also pronounced dead at the scene, and city officials said portions of the encampment removal work continued after the collision.
Investigation and How to Help
Authorities have not yet released the names of either victim and say both deaths remain under investigation, according to The Mercury News.
Police have asked anyone with information about the Fruitvale collision to contact the department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (510) 777-8570, CBS Bay Area noted.
Rail Safety Context
Rail lines run through densely populated areas of East Oakland, and the city has pursued rail safety and access improvements along corridors where freight and passenger trains operate, according to the City of Oakland’s project pages. Those long-term planning efforts aim to mitigate hazards where trains and people share the same space.
