(The following story by Norman Miller appeared on the Neponset Valley Daily News website on December 8.)
WELLESLEY, Mass. — A Westwood man clearing snow next to train tracks Saturday night was killed when a train collided with his snow blower.
Robert McTague, 59, was declared dead at 9 p.m. at Newton-Wellesley Regional Hospital, said Lydia Rivera, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
McTague, an employee for Mass. Bay Commuter Rail, was clearing snow at the right-of-way off Croton Street at the Wellesley Farm station, MBCR spokeswoman Tara Frier said.
At about 8:30 p.m., the snow blower was struck by a CSX freight train, and it appeared McTague was hit by the machine, Frier said.
“It was whiteout conditions last night and it was very difficult,” said Frier. “I don’t know anymore details.”
Rivera said the accident is under investigation by the MBTA Police.
CSX spokesman Dan Murphy said the train was traveling from Albany to Boston. He said it is unknown if the train operator had seen McTague prior to the accident, or if the snow contributed to the death. “That kind of information is under investigation,” Murphy said.
It is unknown how long McTague had worked for the railroad company. Mass. Bay Commuter Rail just took over the station in July, and Frier said she did not know if he had worked for the company prior to that.
Rivera said MBTA Police would continue the investigation today.
Calls to McTague’s home were unanswered last night.