Police: Person struck and killed by train on tracks in East Rochester

EAST ROCHESTER, NY – East Rochester Police confirmed a person was struck and killed by a train in the village.

The Amtrak train, traveling from New York City to Toronto, was passing through East Rochester around 2:30 p.m. when it struck a person trespassing on the track, according to an Amtrak statement. There were no reported injuries to the approximately 135 passengers and crew on board, according to an Amtrak spokesman. Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to investigate.

Police, fire and CSX personnel responded to railroad tracks in the village of East Rochester, near West Commercial and North Washington streets. The area around North Washington Street was cordoned off until about 6 p.m

Police have not yet released the name of the person killed.

East Rochester Fire Chief Jim Diego said several people have been hit on the tracks in the past year.

“The most important thing is that the train tracks are intended for trains, not pedestrians,” Diego said. “And safety comes first. I told someone earlier today: train tracks are for trains, so stay away from the tracks – there’s a reason for that.”

Citing information from the Federal Railroad Administration, the Amtrak spokesman noted that trespassing on railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of railroad-related death in the United States and incidents at grade crossings are the second leading cause of railroad-related death in the United States USA

News10NBC will provide more information as it becomes available.