PRESS RELEASE

OFFENSE: Accidental Death / Suicide
DATE OF INCIDENT: November 04, 2008
LOCATION: Railroad tracks – 1600 block of East Main St.
VICTIM: Unidentified Hispanic Male Adult
SUMMARY:
At about 9:24 p.m., on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, the Barstow Police Department dispatch center received a report of a pedestrian hit by a train on the railroad tracks north of the 1600 block of East Main Street in the City of Barstow. Officers responded to the scene and found an unconscious adult Hispanic male subject near the railroad tracks. The subject, who has not yet been identified pending fingerprint analysis by the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office, sustained a major head injury.

The Barstow Fire Protection District also responded to the scene and pronounced the male subject deceased. Emergency medical aid was unable to be administered due to the severity of the injuries and the fact that the subject was already deceased prior to arrival of emergency personnel.

The train’s conductor was contacted at the scene and he told officers that he saw the male subject crossing the railroad tracks walking north from the area of East Main Street as the train was going east. The conductor said the subject looked at the train and then stopped in the middle of the track occupied by the freight train. The conductor said the male subject did not appear to be stuck or having any difficulties. He said the subject just stopped in the middle of the track and faced the train.

The train’s speed was estimated at 45 miles per hour at the time of the collision and the train came to a stop immediately following the accident. The incident is being investigated by the Barstow Police Department and anyone with information regarding this event is asked to call Officer Rudy Perez and Officer Joe Silva at (760)256-2211 or WE-TIP at 1(800)78-CRIME.

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Prepared by: Sgt. Mike Hunter, Barstow Police Department