Train vs pedestrian in Scarborough 08-18-2013

WCSH-6 wrote:Scarborough police say a pedestrian has been struck by a train on Highland Avenue.

The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. Sunday. According to the Scarborough Fire Department, the victim suffered extensive injuries and was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The Amtrak Downeaster train was delayed for around an hour and began moving again around 9:45 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation by police and more information is expected to be released later in the day on Sunday.

WMTW-8 wrote:Sometime before 8:30, police reported to the tracks in an area under Black Point Road near the intersection with Highland Avenue.

Amtrak has issued an alert for train 692. The website reports an incident on the tracks involving a "trespasser on the tracks."
. . .
The Scarborough Fire Department said the male victim was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with extensive injuries. The victim was conscious and alert when he was found on the track next to the train.

According to officials, the victim appeared to have been walking across the tracks when he was hit.

The Portland Press Herald wrote:The accident happened a couple of hundred yards north of a railroad track overpass on busy Black Point Road, which is Route 207, at about 8:15 a.m. as the train was heading south toward the Old Orchard Beach station.

Scarborough Police Sgt. Rick Rouse said the engineer reported seeing the man running across the tracks in front of the train before he was hit.

Rouse said there were three or four other witnesses, possibly accompanying the man who was injured, but they left the scene before they could be questioned.

The Portland Press Herald wrote:Charles Hope, 36, was struck by the train at Highland Avenue and Black Point Road. Scarborough police describe Hope as a transient from California who most recently was staying in Massachusetts.
. . .
Witnesses told police Hope was running across the tracks toward a freight train parked on the second track. He appeared to not see the Amtrak train and was struck by the front engine, police said.
. . .
Scarborough police continue to investigate, but say it appears the incident was accidental due to Hope being distracted.

Duke Harrington @CurrentDuke wrote:Hope was riding boxcar parked on parallel track. Believed he ran to it when heard Downeaster on fear car, with his belongings, leaving