Many downtown Redding roads closed after pedestrian struck, killed by train

REDDING — A man died after he was hit by a train in downtown Redding, Thursday evening, Aug. 17. The fatal accident happened just north of Tehama St. and caused all east and westbound traffic in the downtown area to be shut down for several hours while officials investigated the accident, according to officials.

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Redding PD and other emergency responders were dispatched to the scene at 7:39 p.m., after receiving a report of a collision between a freight train and pedestrian.

When officials arrived they determined the victim had already succumbed to major traumatic injuries caused by the impact and the man, who remained unidentified as of Sunday night, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

During their initial, on-scene investigation officers learned that the train, which had been traveling north through town, struck the victim as he walked along or across the tracks, Redding Police Corporal Torum later explained.

After striking the man the train slowed to a stop and was left blocking east and westbound traffic on Shasta, Tehama, Yuba, Placer, and South Streets in the downtown area.

The incident and subsequent hours-long investigation created a traffic nightmare for evening commuters and all east and west bound traffic was diverted onto other area roads, with most commuters using Riverside Dr., Eureka Way, or South Market St.

Shasta County Coroner officials were summoned to the scene and eventually took custody of the victim’s body. Officials are still working to identify the victim as well as why he was on the tracks when he was struck.

 

Coroner officials will release the man’s name once his family has been notified regarding his death, according to Torum.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Redding PD at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 18-59158 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.