Selectmen Call for Study on Mansfield Train Station Deaths

MANSFIELD, MA — Town officials in Mansfield want to know why the train tracks near the train station has become such a deadly area.

Following Tuesday’s night report of another person killed near the train tracks, selectmen Chairman Jess Aptowitz announced Wednesday that he has asked Police Chief Ron Sellon to prepare documents and a worksheet on the recent deaths that have plagued the area.

“There's been a few. They're going to put together an analysis with the particular. Once that is available, it will be available to the public and press and we'll have a discussion,” Aptowitz said.

Tuesday’s death was the latest in what seems like a semi-regular occurrence. Last year, two people died at the tracks and more have been struck in past years.

The selectmen also called on the MBTA and state officials to improve safety in the area. The agency discussed safety improvements to the Mansfield station at a selectmen's meeting in September but Trowbridge said they haven’t heard any updates since.

“We did talk to the MBTA right here, we decided we wanted to do something about the safety and we’ve heard nothing since. It’s time for the MBTA, state, and federal representatives to step up. These are preventable deaths,” Selectman Steve Schoonveld said.

Selectman Michael Trowbridge said the board asked the town manager several times for updates from the MBTA and has received silence.

“Unfortunately it’s not under our control. All we can do is keep calling and nagging,’ Trowbridge said.

Image: File Photo