Man struck and killed by Amtrak train in Culpeper

WASHINGTON – Town of Culpeper police are investigating after an Amtrak passenger train struck and killed a 19-year-old man on the tracks Thursday morning.

Authorities say the train was headed from New Orleans to New York and had left the Culpeper, Va., depot just after 8 a.m. when the crew saw three men on the tracks north of the intersection of Fairfax and Wine streets.

The train sounded its horn and began to brake, and two of the men safely crossed the track. Officials say the third man continued to sit and did not move, and the train struck him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The train reportedly was traveling at about 40 mph and was carrying 266 passengers at the time of the incident.

Police were withholding the identity of the man pending notification of his next of kin. He was from Culpeper.

The incident remains under investigation.

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