Woman Fatally Struck By SMART Train In Novato

NOVATO, CA – A woman was struck and killed by a SMART train Monday morning in Marin County, authorities said. The fatal collision was reported at 5:48 a.m. on the tracks in the area just south of North Hamilton Parkway in Novato, according to Novato police Capt. Jim Correa.

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit officials announced around 6 a.m. that trains were delayed because a pedestrian had been hit.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

"Preliminary information leads investigators to believe the pedestrian was on the tracks with the intent to commit suicide," police said in a statement.

The death was the first such fatality to happen on the tracks in Novato, Correa said.

The Novato Police Department was working with SMART and the Marin County Sheriff's Office-Coroner Division to investigate the incident. The victim's name will be released after the family has been notified.

"We remind the community to always be vigilant in the vicinity of railroad crossings and tracks," police said.

A bus bridge was set up to transport passengers between the Novato-San Marin and Novato-Hamilton stations, SMART spokeswoman Jeanne Mariani-Belding said. As of 8:45 a.m., trains were running roughly 15 minutes behind schedule in both directions, she said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Image courtesy of Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit.