CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
California News
Multimedia News
Pedestrian fatality on Caltrain tracks delays train service
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: MENLO PARK
MENLO PARK (Map, News) - An unidentified man was struck and killed by a southbound Caltrain just north of the Menlo Park station Monday morning, snarling train service for several hours and canceling a special service train for baseball fans en route to the Giants’ season home opener.
The man was reportedly trespassing between Encinal and Glenwood avenues at about 8:30 a.m. when a Baby Bullet commuter train making limited stops slammed into him, Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said. He was killed instantly, becoming the fourth pedestrian fatality on Caltrain tracks this year.
Dunn said the man was struck far from a pedestrian crosswalk — in an area clearly marked off by long rows of trees that separate the tracks from a residential street. It was not immediately clear why or how he got in there, according to the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office.
“There was nothing at the scene to indicate a manner of death one way or the other,” said Coroner Robert Foucrault, who could not release the deceased man’s identity until his family was notified.
The incident halted all trains in both directions for up to two hours and canceled a special service train set to depart San Jose at 9:56 a.m. that was scheduled to carry San Francisco Giants fans to the afternoon game at AT&T Park, Dunn said.
“It’s just devastating,” she said. “On such a beautiful sunny day — the opening day of the Giants’ season — whatever the [reason he was on the tracks], this is just really sad.”
The incident was one of the Bay Area’s three train accidents Monday. About a half-hour earlier, 60-year-old Richmond resident Leon Greer Jr. was struck dead by an Amtrak train in Richmond.
An Altamont Commuter Express train nonfatally struck a pedestrian in the Livermore area at about 5:40 p.m., officials said.
The Caltrain fatality comes two weeks after a woman was struck and killed after trespassing in a narrow San Francisco tunnel near the 22nd Street station. Her identity has not been released.
Dunn said train fatalities are grim occurrences for all involved and particularly have an affect on the conductors. She said train conductors feel helpless when pedestrians end up in their path, unable to slow down the trains in time.
“The conductor is often the last person to see this individual alive,” Dunn said. “Sometimes these people will look the conductor right in the eye before they’re hit.”
Fatalities
Deaths on Caltrain tracks in past five years» 2007: 8
» 2006: 17
» 2005: 10
» 2004: 9
» 2003: 10
Source: Caltrain
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:39 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 9, 2008 re: "Caltrain covets cyclists’ cash"
Report as inappropriate
8:58 AM MST on Fri., Aug. 8, 2008
re: "Caltrain covets cyclists’ cash"
Report as inappropriate
5:26 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 27, 2008
re: "Rail plan on track to eminent domain"
Report as inappropriate
1:31 PM MST on Sat., Jun. 28, 2008
re: "Caltrain leaving bicyclists out in the cold"
Report as inappropriate
11:43 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008
re: "Teen’s death on tracks makes five this year"
Report as inappropriate
11:59 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008
re: "Teen’s death on tracks makes five this year"
Report as inappropriate
11:21 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008
re: "Pedestrian fatality on Caltrain tracks delays train service"
Report as inappropriate
11:19 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008
re: "Pedestrian fatality on Caltrain tracks delays train service"
Report as inappropriate
10:13 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 21, 2008
re: "Teen’s death on tracks makes five this year"
Report as inappropriate
12:32 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 21, 2008
re: "Teen’s death on tracks makes five this year"
Report as inappropriate
12:13 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008
re: "Pedestrian fatality on Caltrain tracks delays train service"
Report as inappropriate
12:08 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008
re: "Caltrain back on time after fatal accident"
Report as inappropriate
12:48 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 8, 2008
re: "Pedestrian fatality on Caltrain tracks delays train service"
Report as inappropriate
3:46 PM MST on Fri., Feb. 29, 2008
re: "Caltrain back on time after fatal accident"
Report as inappropriate
11:10 AM MST on Fri., Feb. 29, 2008
re: "Two Caltrain incidents tie up commute for riders"
Report as inappropriate
9:01 PM MST on Thu., Jan. 17, 2008
re: "Amtrak strike would derail Caltrain service"
Report as inappropriate
12:01 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
re: "Caltrain to add two evening trains"
Report as inappropriate
5:30 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007
re: "Caltrain to add two evening trains"
Report as inappropriate
7:22 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 21, 2007
re: "Rift with feds stalls electrification project"
Report as inappropriate
2:17 AM MST on Fri., Sep. 7, 2007
re: "Caltrain back on time after fatal accident"
Report as inappropriate
Professor DeBreeze said:
That guy in the bicycle helmet is super cute.
4 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Caltrain is lying. Bike sharing works for short trips of an hour or less, so the bikes can be reused. Commuters take bikes all day or all night, defeating the purpose. Only one train per day is full for part of the run. Removing empty seats so passengers with bicycles can get on increases farebox revenues. If some riders need to stand for a couple of stops so that other passengers can board at all, it's an ok tradeoff. Caltrain is losing money by not providing for more bikes on trains.
6 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Here we go again--Eminent Domain--one way of forcing home & store owners, residences & renters alike, out of there homes & businesses without recourse. Where can all these folks & businesses relocate? Many have lived in the areas close to Caltrain tracks for years--young, middle age & seniors. The person/persons that proposed this plan isn't thinking of the thousands & thousands of folks that will be affected by this proposal. High speed train to "rush" to Los Angeles area in 2 hours? Why? Doesn't make sense. I, for one will vote NO if the proposal appears on the November ballot. Fran.
10 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Jonquil said:
Thanks for the article. One point to mention: Caltrain is never, as far as I know, bumping passengers at any station. That means that switching a small amount of capacity from passengers to bicycles is not actually harmful to the non-bicyclists. I, and many other bicyclists, would be happy to buy a ticket for my bicycle to compensate Caltrain for the missing passenger revenues. I need my bicycle at both ends of the commute.
8 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Ashley Williams said:
The second sentence first part is suppose to say" Man i would hang out with him".
7 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
some people who commented have no heart. a 15-year-old guy died and people seem to have no symphathy. This kid went to my school and although I agree that he shouldn't have been walking on the tracks, he still died and that changes everything. NOBODY deserves to die. This kid was in my brother's class. I can see how his death has affected the school and I wish his family comfort and all my sympathy.
4 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Eddie, do you have no soul? I wonder if Anthony's mom would think thats funny.
9 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This is pretty scary. I am a fifteen year old boy, just like Anthony, and I take Caltrain to and from school everyday. I can't believe how some people can make sick "natural selection" jokes, if it was your family or friend, you would not.
7 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Kim ; Anthony's Friend said:
Rest in Paradise, Anthony Rea! We miss you & love you. We were just kickin it the day before,and I didnt know you for that long,but you were easy to click with.And you always have a smile on your face,such a nice guy.Rest in Peace! We love you.
6 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
In the Michael Bulnes Jr. case. The court ruled that the designated path on Caltrain land was unsafe and dangerous, but the engineer was not at fault because the train could not stop fast enough. The jury whom I assume watches too much TV, thought real live was like TV's "CSI", but its not. It appears that the higher educated the juror, the less common sense the person. It's obvious that the conductor has limited power in stopping a moving train on a dime, but that does not mean that Caltrain is not at fault. When history has repeatedly told you that the tracks are unsafe evidenced by the continual slaughtering of our families and friends, some type of light should go on in their head. There have been time tested methods of securing the tracks, but Caltrain refuses to spend the money. I'm sure many commuters agree with the cost saving measures Caltrain is taking, at least until they loose a loved one. I understand that the train is not at fault, but management is.
5 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Love how Mike states the train "slammed" in to the person. Great writing. These people are trespassers. It is private property not a short cut. Unfortunately some people tend to end their lives this way and involve not only crews but passengers. Remember, trains don't swerve.
8 agree | 10 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Aslong as you stay OFF the tracks you have nothing to worry about. Do you go play on the freeway?
9 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This Weinberg person seems to get a personal thrill every time someone gets smashed by one of these so called miracles of transportation, an almost God like statement of... "TRESPASSER BE DAMMED" is proclaimed. I suppose the same comment would be acceptable for auto/pedestrian accidents as well? These so called baby bullet trains are a huge mistake and do not belong in a heavily populated areas.
5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
eddie said:
For the bleeding heart liberal who accuses train engineers of murdering tresspassers: it's not murder, it's natural selection at work.
71 agree | 73 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
"fatally killed"? What other way is there to be killed? Getting killed is always fatal. Try "fatally injured", or just "killed".
50 agree | 62 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Seven said:
Muni killing people and a potential Caltrain shutdown. I love living in this "transit first" city without a car.
100 agree | 102 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Remember the Daylight and the Lark? That was a great way to travel to LA and back. Same track as the Cal Train Commuter, brings back good memories.
129 agree | 110 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
How is it 'murder' when it takes the engineer 2 miles to stop the train? Honestly, if you saw some of the s**t that those train engineers see on a daily basis (people hopping on and off the tracks in front of approaching trains, idiots wearing headphones walking on the tracks) you'd actually start praising CalTrain for the LOW amount of deaths that occur each year.
123 agree | 130 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
All East Coast commuter railroads (NJ Transit, SEPTA, MARC, MTA) as well as Amtrak mix MU's with diesel power!
136 agree | 145 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Makes me sick how CalTrain always calls the people they kill "trespassers", as if they are not humans. CalTrain's way of deflecting responsibility for the many murders they commit each year.
243 agree | 234 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree