Teen Killed On Piscataway Tracks 'Didn't Hear Train:' Report

PISCATAWAY, NJ — A South Plainfield teen who was hit and killed while walking on train tracks in Piscataway Saturday appears to have died by accident, as he was on the phone at the time and didn't even hear the train coming, his loved ones told the media.

The young man has been identified as Andy Cruz, 18, who just graduated from Plainfield High School this past June. As Patch reported, he was struck and killed on the train tracks at about 10 a.m. this past Saturday, Oct. 5.

"Andy Cruz was taken from us tragically on October 5, 2019," his family wrote on a GoFundMe page they set up to help pay for his funeral expenses. "Andy was struck by a freight train while crossing the train tracks on New Market Road in Piscataway, NJ."

Family friend Yolanda Quinones emphasized to MyCentralJersey that Cruz's death was not a suicide. At the time of his death, he was talking to his mother on his cell phone and did not hear the approaching train, she said.

"By the time he heard it, it was too late," she told the newspaper.

Loved ones described a young man who loved baseball and his siblings. He died exactly two months after his 18th birthday, on Aug. 5.

"Andy was a vibrant young man who aspired to be a professional baseball player one day," his GoFundMe page read. "Andy was very family oriented and loved his family more than anything. Andy has an older brother and little sister who will miss him terribly."

These are freight train tracks operated by Norfolk Southern, according to the MyCentralJersey report.

GoFundMe is a promotional partner with Patch.