Woman Collecting Trash Fatally Struck By Train [UPDATE]

SAN DIEGO, CA – A 59-year-old woman picking up trash on the railroad tracks in Mission Hills was struck and fatally injured by an Amtrak train Friday morning, authorities said.

It happened at 6 a.m. on the tracks near Noell and Hancock streets between Interstate 5 and Pacific Highway, San Diego County sheriff's Deputy Brian Abraham said. The Amtrak Surfliner was northbound at about 45 mph when the engineer spotted the victim picking up trash on the tracks.

The engineer activated the train's emergency braking system, whistle and horn, but she remained on the tracks, Abraham said.

Medics took the gravely injured woman to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest with life-threatening injuries, Abraham said. Doctors at the hospital later pronounced her dead.

Coaster and Amtrak train service was affected for more than three hours, the North County Transit District said. But around 9:15 a.m., normal service was restored and all trains were expected to be on schedule.

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PREVIOUS: FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018, 8:21 a.m.

An Amtrak train struck a woman Friday morning in Mission Hills, police said.

Few details of the crash were immediately available, but it was reported just after 6 a.m. on the tracks near 2100 Hancock Street between Interstate 5 and Pacific Highway, San Diego police Officer Steve Bourasa said.

There was no immediate information regarding injuries.

The victim was a woman whose age and identity was not immediately known, Bourasa said. She was standing "on or near the tracks" when she was struck by the Amtrak Surfliner train.

The North County Transit District said that Coaster and Amtrak trains were unable to pass through the area because of the police activity.

"Coaster and Amtrak passengers please utilize San Diego Trolley to get between Old Town and Santa Fe Depot Stations," the NCTD tweeted a little after 6 a.m. "We apologize for the inconvenience."

Bourasa said the San Diego County Sheriff's Department would investigate the crash.

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