A male pedestrian died early Wednesday morning after being struck by a freight train near Soledad Canyon Road and Ruether Avenue. An investigation involving at least three separate agencies continued into the morning hours.
“The call came in from Metrolink as a Union Pacific train versus pedestrian on Ruether Avenue at 12:46 a.m.,” said Martin Rangel, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, and no one was transported to the hospital, he added. By Wednesday afternoon, the L.A. County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner had not yet identified the person.
“Right now, the decedent is listed as John Doe,” said Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the department.
The incident called for a multi-agency investigation involving the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department, Union Pacific Police and the office of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
By nearly 4 a.m., the investigation was still active, said Deputy Kevin Fleck, of the SCV Sheriff’s Station. Investigators surrounded the area between Ruether Avenue and Rainbow Glen Drive trying to find out how and why the pedestrian ended up on the train tracks, as well as gathering information on the actions of the freight train and conductors.
Union Pacific spokesman Tim McMahan said the train crew, which consisted of a conductor and an engineer, did not suffer any injuries. The train involved was an empty rock train moving westbound.
Law enforcement and investigators cleared the scene before 6 a.m., just prior to the start of the heavy morning commute.