Pedestrian Who was Killed on Regional Rail Line Had Left Platform and Walked in Front of Train, Officials Say

Keith Heffintrayer | North Penn Now•

A pedestrian who was struck and killed by a train on the SEPTA regional rail line Tuesday morning had left the platform and walked into the path of the train as it was arriving at the Penllyn Train Station in Lower Gwynedd Township, according to officials.

The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 27 near the intersection of Pershing Road and Old Penllyn Pike. According to Emergency Alerts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, an unidentified pedestrian was struck by the 516 Train to Lansdale and was still under the train car. A short time later, SEPTA announced that service was suspended along the regional rail line.

In response to a request for comment, SEPTA officials said their preliminary investigation showed the fatal strike occurred after the pedestrian walked into the path of the train.

"According to the information we gathered after the incident yesterday, the person was on the platform and then walked into the tracks and into the path of the train as it was coming into the station,” said Andrew Busch, Director of Media Relations for SEPTA.

Police have since identified the victim as a 57-year-old female from East Norriton Township, however due to the incident likely be ruled a suicide, the woman’s name has not been released.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, and the victim’s cause and manner of death are pending the results of the autopsy.

With the regional rail line temporarily suspended, SEPTA used shuttle buses to transport passengers on the train to an area public transit station.

The regional rail line resumed normal service on Tuesday afternoon, according to a report by Jo Ciavaglia at the Bucks County Courier Times.