INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 63-year-old man was fatally struck by a freight train after walking along the railroad tracks Sunday morning at the 77th Street crossing, sheriff’s officials said. The unidentified man’s town of residence was not immediately available.
“(Detectives) are working to determine whether it was intentional or not,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. “The pedestrian is an adult male whose name will not be released until next of kin can be notified.”
The collision involving the pedestrian and the train happened about 7:20 a.m. at the 77th Street railroad crossing, just west of Old Dixie Highway. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff’s officials said.
The train’s conductor stopped the train immediately after the crash, Jaworski said. Sheriff’s officials said the train and its cars stretched up to 2 miles long.
“Due to the length of the train, several crossings in the area will remain closed until the train is moved,” according to sheriff’s officials. “Please plan alternate routes if you are traveling in this area.”
It was not immediately clear what time the closed crossings would reopen. Deputies were working with Florida East Coast Railway officials to investigate the deadly crash.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
