A woman hit by a train in downtown Modesto during the Monday evening commute has died, according to police. Officers responded at about 5:20 p.m. to reports of a train striking a pedestrian near 9th and L streets, where they found the woman badly injured and rushed her to a hospital. She later died from her injuries. Her name has not been released, and detectives are still working to determine how the collision happened and which railroad was involved.
Investigation underway
According to CBS Sacramento, officers arrived within minutes of the 911 calls, but the woman could not be saved. The outlet reports police did not immediately say whether the train stopped at the scene or if rail service was affected. Detectives are asking anyone who saw the impact, or who may have video from the area, to come forward as they work to piece together what led up to the crash.
Where it happened
The collision took place in the downtown 9th and L corridor, an area the City of Modesto has highlighted in recent traffic notices because of an ongoing 9th Street corridor improvement project. Construction work and lane shifts on 9th Street between Carpenter Road and L Street are listed in the city’s January traffic updates and can change how both drivers and pedestrians move through the area. That construction backdrop is among the factors investigators are expected to consider. City of Modesto
Rail safety context
The Federal Railroad Administration notes that trespassing on railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States, with hundreds of trespass fatalities recorded each year. The agency promotes engineering, education and enforcement strategies to cut down on incidents at crossings and along tracks, and it urges people to stick to designated crossings and avoid walking on railroad property.
Witnesses and next steps
Modesto police have asked anyone with information or video of the crash to call the department’s non-emergency line at 209-552-2470 or use the city’s online reporting tools. Contact information and reporting options are listed on the Modesto Police Department contacts page. Officials say they will continue working with railroad and county agencies as the investigation moves forward.
