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Image
Above, one of the middle cars of the MBTA commuter train, with lights of the transit investigators, visible through brush behind Franklin Landing apartments Tuesday evening.. (image courtesy of Ethan McCarthy Earls)
In
a cruel bit of irony, only a day after MBTA brass gathered at North Station
to kick off
the nation’s annual “See
Tracks, Think Train”
Week, an
individual was struck and killed by an MBTA in Franklin yesterday
evening.
The
original call reporting the incident reached the Metacomet dispatch
center at 7:57 pm and at 8:04, New England Fire News reported, based
on its monitoring of emergency communications by Franklin Fire and
Police, that a pedestrian at been struck and killed in the vicinity
of the Fisher Street rail crossing.
A
subsequent New England Fire report at 8:16 indicated that the victim
was trapped under the train and that extrication was expected to be
difficult and time consuming.
On
scene after
8:30 pm, there was a heavy presence, mostly involving police vehicles and a
fire department off road vehicle at the Fisher Street Crossing with
police tape limiting access to the tracks toward the center of town.
One end of the MBTA commuter train could be seen about 500 feet down
the tracks, presumably the outbound from South Station scheduled to
arrive at Forge Park at 7.02 pm.
Transit
Police Crime Scene investigators arrived at approximately 8:45 pm.
Investigators
could be seen combing the area of the right of way and the train cars themselves from Union Street
toward Fisher, with the other (presumably back) end of the train
visible several hundred feet beyond Union Street, adjacent to
the Mill Store complex.
Transit
investigators on scene declined to comment.
At
approximately 9:30, the MBTA posted on X, “Franklin Line trains are
currently terminating and originating at Franklin due to police
activity on the right of way. Passengers between Franklin and Forge
Park/495 will be accommodated by a shuttle bus.
Later,
at about 12:30 pm, MBTA spokesperson, Richard Sullivan, responding
via email, stated, “At
approximately 7:50PM an adult male intentionally entered
the right of way on the Franklin Branch in the vicinity of Union and
Fisher Streets, Franklin. The male was struck by an MBTA Commuter
Rail train and has been pronounced deceased as a result of injuries
sustained. Transit
Police Detectives
along with the Norfolk County DA’s Office are investigating.
“On
behalf of the TPD and the entire MBTA organization we offer our most
sincere condolences to the decedent’s family and friends.
“No
further updates.”
It
is unclear as
of 3 am whether
trains to and from Forge Park will be in operation Wednesday morning.
