Train Safety Fatality File

DEATH OF MAN HIT BY TRAIN RULED AN ACCIDENT, CORVALLIS POLICE SAY

Police say the death was accidental, as the man was trying to cross between stopped railcars when he fell and was hit by the train.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A pedestrian is dead after being hit by a train in Corvallis, police say.

Officers responded to the area of SW 6th Street and SW Madison Avenue at about 9:40 p.m. on March 24 after receiving a report of a fatal train crash. The caller remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation.

The pedestrian has been identified as Falco Freeman, 50, of Corvallis.

Investigators determined the incident was accidental, police said. Freeman was reportedly in the company of two other men when they approached the 28-car train, which was headed south.

The train was stopped at SW 6th Street and SW Washington Avenue when the men decided to cross between stopped rail cars. Freeman reportedly fell between the cars and was fatally struck by the train.

Police said the train personnel were too far from the location of the accident to be aware of what happened until the information was relayed from the Corvallis Regional Communication Center. It came to a stop near NW 35th Street, where investigators made contact. The crew has cooperated with the investigation.

If you are near a train, police advise against climbing or trying to ride railcars and engines. This is dangerous and also against the law, they added.