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Man killed by train while trying to cross tracks at Washington Street Station

"Don't try to run to the train, don't try to run for the trolley. Wait. It's not worth your life," said witness Paul Walker.

SAN DIEGO — A passenger train struck and killed a male pedestrian who apparently ran onto the tracks near Lindbergh Field Tuesday afternoon.

A witness said he watched as a couple tried to cross the tracks, presumably to get to Washington Street Station to catch the trolley. He says the woman made it across the train tracks, but the man with her did not. 

"I saw the Asian guy, I heard the train blowing the horn, and all of a sudden the train clipped him. He flew in the air, hit his head on the ground then landed way over there," Paul Walker said. 

The southbound Amtrak train was traveling about 48 mph shortly before 4:15 p.m. when the train's engineer saw a man run towards the tracks, according to Deputy Jason Burk of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The engineer sounded the train's horn, but the man did not stop.

The engineer was unable to stop the train in time, and the train fatally struck the man.

Walker lives in the neighborhood and happened to be walking by when the incident occurred. He rushed over to see if the man was still alive, but as he got closer, it was clear the man did not survive his injuries. 

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Walker said the gates were down, lights on and sirens activated, as the Amtrak train passed. While heavy-hearted for the victim's family, he warned others it's difficult to judge the speed of trains.

"Don't try to run to the train, don't try to run for the trolley," Walker pleaded, "Wait. It's not worth your life."

Anyone with information about the case was encouraged to call the sheriff's non-emergency line at 858-565-5200.

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