Overview
- Police say the collision occurred late Monday night on the southbound tracks near the 1500 block of Grant Avenue in the Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia when a northbound CSX freight train struck a 15-year-old walking on the rails.
- Investigators learned the teen had been reported missing and entered into the National Crime Information Center database the day before the crash.
- Officers’ initial findings say the train was traveling at a normal operating speed under darkness and low visibility, and the 55-year-old conductor activated emergency braking after seeing the person but could not stop in time.
- The Philadelphia Fire Department pronounced the teenager dead at the scene and his remains were taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner, police have not released his name and the investigation is ongoing while CSX has not issued a comment.
- The Medical Examiner will confirm identification and cause of death and investigators may review train event data and witness accounts to determine whether any safety or operational factors contributed to the collision.