Update, Feb. 18, 1:35 p.m. The coroner’s office has not yet located next of kin, so the name was not available for release.
Update, Feb. 9, 1:50 p.m. A representative from the Alameda County coroner’s office confirmed that the man who died has been identified, but next of kin has not been notified, so the name is not yet available for public release.
Update, Feb. 8, 3:30 p.m. An Amtrak representative said there were no injuries to the train’s 101 passengers or crew.
Update, 1:50 p.m. Union Pacific spokesman Francisco Castillo confirmed that the train struck a man near Bancroft and Fourth Street shortly before noon. Castillo described the pedestrian as “an adult male trespasser” who was trying to cross the tracks when he was hit. The train was going approximately 20-30 mph. The incident is under investigation.
“The safety message here is that pedestrians, bicycles and cars need to be very aware of the hazards associated with trains and should never be on the train tracks or attempt to cross one without following the proper signs,” Castillo said by email. He said Amtrak might have additional information.
Update, 1:05 p.m. According to the Berkeley Fire Department, a man has died after being hit by a southbound Amtrak train near Bancroft Way and Second Street in West Berkeley. He was declared dead at the scene by fire personnel, said Donna McCracken, Berkeley’s interim deputy fire chief. The incident is now under investigation by railroad authorities.
Original 12:54 p.m. Authorities are responding to West Berkeley following a report that a person was struck by a Union Pacific train between Allston Way and Bancroft Way.
The Berkeley Fire Department was dispatched to the train tracks at 11:55 a.m. for a report of a male who had been hit.
As of about 12:10 p.m., Union Pacific representatives were reported over the scanner to be arriving on scene to handle the incident.
UP has not responded to multiple requests for information. Berkeleyside will update this post when the agency does.
Said Officer Jennifer Coats, Berkeley Police spokeswoman: “We are assisting at the scene as needed.”
Union Pacific is the lead agency, she said, and would be the ones to release more details.
One local resident reported lots of police and firefighters at Bancroft as of about 12:30 p.m.
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