Man struck, killed by train in apparent suicide

An apparently suicidal man laid down on the railroad tracks near the Encinitas Transit Station and was fatally struck by an oncoming train shortly before midnight on Sept. 5.

A northbound Pacific Sun freight train struck the victim on the tracks running across East D Street, just south of the Encinitas Transit Station, according to sheriff’s Deputy Marcus Levine. The name of the person killed was not immediately available.

The engineer told authorities a man stepped out in front of the train and laid on the tracks, ignoring the locomotive’s warning horn. The train was traveling at about 48 miles per hour. The man died at the scene, Levine said.

As of Sept. 6, the Sheriff’s Transit Enforcement Unit will be handling the investigation. Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency line at 858-565-5200.