Man struck, killed by Amtrak train in South Deerfield

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Authorities have released that it was a 60-year-old man from South Deerfield who was hit and killed by an Amtrak train Monday afternoon.

When our crews arrived on-scene around 5 p.m. Monday along Pleasant Street in South Deerfield, Amtrak Police were seen in the area, along with other first responders. The area near the train was also completely blocked off with caution tape.

In an statement shared with Western Mass News, Amtrak told us, in part: “Amtrak train 56 was traveling from Washington, D.C. to St. Albans at approx. 4:10 p.m. ET when an individual who was trespassing on the track came into contact with the train in South Deerfield. There have been no reported injuries to the 79 passengers or crew onboard.”

Western Mass News also spoke with two people who were on that train when it struck the person on the tracks. The two passengers, who wished to remain anonymous, described their initial reaction to what happened. “I did see about two ambulances there, two police cars, two fire trucks,” said one witness, while the other noted, “It was a lot of like, no one knew what was happening at first. It was kind of out of the blue.”

They also tell us that Amtrak staff were very helpful to passengers throughout the entire situation that lasted roughly three hours before the train began moving again.

Amtrak also told us they’re working with local law enforcement to investigate further.