A 9-year-old girl with autism has died after being struck by a BNSF train in Las Cruces early Tuesday morning, according to police. The girl, identified as Nancy Harvey, had wandered from her family's home on the 200 block of Conway Avenue before she was found dead near the railroad tracks.
Shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, Las Cruces police and fire crews were dispatched to the tracks near South Main Street and Conway Avenue, according to koat.com. Harvey's family had reported her missing shortly before she was found deceased near the tracks, police said. The southbound BNSF train came to a stop after the collision, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Harvey was identified by the Las Cruces Police Department, according to kfoxtv.com, which also reported that she was autistic. Per the same account, she had wandered from her residence before the fatal collision near South Main Street. Details about the train's speed, whether warning signals were active at the time, or exactly where Harvey entered the railroad property have not been released.
Police Say Investigation Is Still Underway
Las Cruces police have not released additional information about how long Harvey had been missing before she was found, nor have they detailed the circumstances that led her to the tracks. The case was also reported by KVIA, which confirmed Harvey died after the train struck her in Las Cruces, according to police. No further comment from Harvey's family, BNSF, or emergency responders has been made public.
Rail Safety Concerns Nationwide
Federal data offers some context for the broader risks around railroad tracks, even as the specifics of Tuesday's collision remain under investigation. The Federal Railroad Administration states that trespassing is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States, with more than 500 trespass fatalities occurring nationally each year, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Accidents at highway-rail grade crossings are described as the second leading cause of rail-related deaths nationally, with more than 2,000 incidents and 200 fatalities occurring each year, per the agency's railroad crossing safety guidance.
National trespass-casualty totals for 2025 vary across the available data. Operation Lifesaver cites preliminary figures showing 1,314 pedestrian rail-trespass casualties nationwide in 2025, including 788 fatalities and 526 injuries, while other figures attributed to the same organization put the total at 1,317 casualties, including 792 fatalities and 525 injuries. Las Cruces police have not said whether Harvey's death will be classified among such national statistics, and the investigation into Tuesday's collision continues.
