2 men die in separate Wash. train fatalities

SEATTLE (AP) — A railroad official say two men are dead after being struck by freight trains in separate Washington crashes early Saturday.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas says the accidents occurred about a half hour, and many miles, apart. He says they’re the first train fatalities in Washington this year.

Melonas says a man was struck by a BNSF train at 12:10 a.m. near Marsyville, Wash., about 50 north of Seattle.

He says the man was on the tracks between rail crossings when he was hit. The train traveling less than 40 mph.

The other fatality occurred at 12:40 a.m. about 35 miles south of Seattle, between Auburn and Sumner, when a train traveling about 35 mph hit a man near a golf course. He says the crash site was also between rail crossings.

He says police and BNSF officials are investigating both crashes, and didn’t have names or other details.