(The following story by Mark Larabee was posted on the Portland Oregonian’s website on January 29.)
PORTLAND, Ore. — A man died after being hit by an Amtrak train Tuesday in Southeast Portland, authorities said.
The man, described by officials as a transient, was lying between the tracks and rose to his knees when the engineer blew the train whistle, said John Greisen, a senior special agent with the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Greisen said the train, bound from Eugene to Portland, was traveling about 45 mph through the industrial area near Southeast Division Street and 11th Avenue at about noon when the accident happened.
By the time the engineer saw the man, it was too late to stop, Greisen said. The man was dragged for about two blocks.
“There was nothing they could do,” Greisen said.
Initial reports incorrectly said the man was a bicyclist who had gone around warning barricades. The man did have a bicycle that was near the tracks.
The train was delayed about 11/2 hours, and the 37 passengers were taken by bus to Union Station.
The man’s name was withheld pending the notification of his family.