Emergency personnel responded to the BNSF train tracks north of Felida to find a man who had been hit by the train in critical condition. (Clark County Fire & Rescue)
A man struck by a freight train north of Felida early Tuesday morning later died at the hospital, officials said.
Firefighters responded to the incident at Northwest Krieger Road near 179th Street, between Felida and Ridgefield. It was reported at about 7:30 a.m.
A man in his 30s was sitting on the tracks when the northbound train approached and tried to brake, Clark County Fire & Rescue Spokesman Tim Dawdy said. The freight train didn’t stop in time, however, and the man was struck and thrown 60 feet down an embankment.
Firefighters found the man in critical condition, Dawdy said, and he was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
The man later died at the hospital, BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas said.
The fatality is the 22nd death on BNSF tracks in Washington so far this year, making it one of the deadliest years for train deaths in decades, Melonas said.
Clark County Fire & Rescue, Clark County Fire District 6 and American Medical Response responded to the scene, along with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and BNSF police.
Dawdy said the area is known for trespassers, and the agency has responded to several incidents involving trains and pedestrians in the area. He encouraged people to stop trespassing onto the tracks.
“There’s no sense in having that kind of tragedy,” Dawdy said. “The best way to prevent these accidents is to stay off the railroad tracks.”
The train was stopped and traffic was halted while the agency investigated, Melonas said The line reopened at 9:30 a.m., and four trains were delayed, he said.
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