Man Killed by Amtrak Train in San Clemente Saturday

A man was struck by an Amtrak train and killed in San Clemente today, authorities said.

It happened just before 3 p.m. on the tracks south of North Beach, near a pedestrian trail, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Coroner’s personnel was summoned to the scene to investigate the death, he said.

A watch commander at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau -- which patrols some regional trains such as Metrolink -- said the train was operated by Amtrak.

Witnesses said the man, who had gray hair, had been sitting on some rocks staring at the ocean before he went under safety arms, onto the tracks and was struck, Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority said.

The man was struck by Amtrak train 579 near the San Clemente Station, according to Metrolink, which reported that its trains 664 and 858 on the Inland Empire-Orange County Line were affected.

The train was northbound, Concialdi said.

• City News Service