Man fatally struck by train in Davis

Yolo County coroner’s officials are still trying to identify the man who was fatally struck by a Union Pacific freight train early Monday morning in Davis.

Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Aaron Hunt said the man was sitting on the railroad tracks near Second Street and Peña Drive when the westbound freight train, hauling scrap metal and lumber from Roseville to Milpitas, began passing through Davis at about 4:25 a.m.

“Our train crew put the train into an emergency stop process, but they were unable to stop in time,” Hunt said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was in his early to mid-20s, Chief Deputy Coroner Robert LaBrash said. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.

Two westbound Amtrak passenger trains were delayed in leaving Sacramento as a result of the incident — one for just under an hour and a half, the second for 30 minutes, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said.

The Union Pacific train’s conductor, who reported the fatality, and other crew members were referred to grief counselors following the incident, Hunt said.

“It’s typically a pretty difficult experience for our train crew members,” who even at slow speeds require up to a mile to bring a train to a complete stop, Hunt said.

Union Pacific police are investigating the incident. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information is asked to call authorities at 888-877-7267.

Davis’ last train-pedestrian fatality occurred June 30, 2011, when 54-year-old Danny Gene Ferguson was struck by an Amtrak passenger train near the downtown train station. His death was ruled accidental.

— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene