Man killed by commuter train in San Diego County

A Coaster commuter train struck and killed a man who was walking a dog in Del Mar, authorities said.

The accident happened Tuesday night at the railway crossing in the 1600 block of Coast Boulevard, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

The engineer told investigators that the train was traveling north at about 50 mph when he saw the man crossing the tracks with the dog.

“The engineer sounded his horn and applied the train's brakes,” the statement said. “The man did not respond to the horn in any way, but continued to walk slowly across the tracks.”

Although the man made it across, he was clipped by the passing train, which extended from the tracks by about four feet on each side, the statement said.

Witnesses administered first aid and called 911. The man was declared dead at 8.35 p.m.

Authorities did not immediately identify the 42-year-old victim, who they said was from Washington state and had been dog-sitting.

The dog, a black Labrador retriever, was not hurt in the incident and was being kept by neighbors of the owner, the statement said.

-- Alexandra Zavis

Comments

[Erol Gokcedag]

It sounds like he may have fallen asleep during his slow walk, or at least he was dozing somehow. The article makes it sound like it is a relief the dog survived. Otherwise, if the fatal crossing of the tracks was deliberate, I'd be interested in knowing more about the man's motives.

[Diane]

wonder if he had earphones on.

[Ken_D]

Did not respond to the train horn in any way? Did he have any earbuds in or headphones on?

Condolences to the deceased man's friends and family.

To folks who cross or walk/run along train tracks...It's a train track, keep your head up and your ears open!

[michelle]

Well, actually I'm glad the dog survived. It wasn't his decision to cross the railroad track. It was the man's. Erol would you have been happier if both had been killed? Re the man, maybe he was deaf and didn't hear the train. I'm sure more information will come out as more is learned about this man.

[Chris G]

"Authorities did not immediately identify the 42-year-old victim, who they said was from Washington state and had been dog-sitting."

Who brings in someone from Washington state to watch their dog?

[culprit]

How do you fall asleep and continue to walk? I'd say it was more likely he was either hearing/sight impaired, or was listening to music with headphones on and just didn't hear the train's horn.