Babson Baseball Player ID'd as Southborough Train Victim

WELLESLEY, MA – A Babson College baseball player has been identified as the man fatally struck by a freight train in Southborough over the weekend. Dan Cooney, 20, was a sophomore at Babson and star athlete from New Jersey, according to NJ.com.

The incident happened early Sunday morning, when MBTA Transit Police said they received a radio call to respond to the Southborough Commuter Rail station for a report of a person possibly struck by a train.

Multiple Transit police officers, along with Southborough Fire and EMS responded. Transit police personnel on the scene reported that Cooney was trespassing on the right of way when he was struck by a CSX freight train in the vicinity of Southville Road.

Cooney has been pronounced dead as a result of the injuries, police said.

Transit Police detectives, along with representatives of the Worcester County DA's Office, say they are currently investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. Foul play is not suspected.

The Babson College baseball team tweeted Monday that it lost "a brother, a teammate, and a friend."

Tributes have been pouring in for Cooney, a Verona, NJ native and St. Peter's Prep graduate who was Hudson County Baseball Player of the Year in 2015.

As a pitcher during his senior season at Prep, Cooney was 4-1, with a 2.18 ERA, in helping the Marauders to a 26-3 record and the 2015 Hudson County Tournament championship, according to nj.com. Cooney received all-state honors, and Prep finished as the No. 6 team in the state.

Photo courtesy of Cooney family

Tom Davis (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.