Pedestrian fatally struck by freight train in Steilacoom

STEILACOOM, WA – A 23-year-old man died Tuesday, July 14, after a freight train struck him on Steilacoom, a small town about an hour south of Seattle.

According to The News Tribune, a BNSF freight train struck the unidentified man near Chapman Loop around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Because the accident occurred in an area hard to reach for first responders, the victim needed to be rescued by West Pierce’s fireboat crew and deposited at Saltar’s Point, where he was airlifted to Madigan Army Medical Center.

The man was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m.

The accident is still under investigation, as there were no known witnesses to the collision. Officials are unsure why the victim was standing on the tracks, but the BNSF train conductor stopped at the scene.

[cta]