A 16-year-old boy has died after being struck by a Metro-North train Wednesday night in Norwalk, Connecticut, according to authorities.
The fatal incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. as a Metro-North train was traveling from Danbury to South Norwalk. Officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Police said the teenager was on a bridge overpass south of the Merritt 7 Station when the collision happened.
A preliminary investigation found that the victim was on the railroad tracks with two other individuals, ages 17 and 20, in an area where they were not authorized to be. Authorities said all three were trespassing at the time of the incident.
The Norwalk Fire Department responded to the scene and discovered the teen trapped beneath one of the train’s rail cars. Rescue efforts were especially challenging because the train had stopped on a bridge, creating limited access and posing a significant fall hazard for emergency personnel.
Firefighters successfully extricated the teenager from beneath the train before he was transported to a nearby hospital. Despite lifesaving efforts, he later died from the injuries he sustained.
The two other individuals who were with the victim were charged with trespassing, according to MTA Police.
Approximately 25 passengers were aboard the train when the incident occurred. Officials said none of the passengers or crew members were injured. Passengers were later transferred to a backup train to continue their journey.
Rail service on the Danbury Branch was temporarily suspended while MTA Police and local authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
The identity of the 16-year-old has not yet been publicly released pending notification of next of kin. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
