Teen trying to cross tracks gets struck by oncoming train and dies, Utah officials say

A teen was fatally struck by a train after trying to cross tracks while two trains traveling in different directions were crossing at about the same time, Utah authorities told news outlets.

The teen died after lifting the railroad crossing gate and going under it on Monday, April 18, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The teen’s name, age or gender have not been publicly released.

The teen was a student at Jordan High School, officials said in a statement to students’ families.

“With great sadness, I’m writing to inform our school community that a Jordan High student has died from injuries sustained in a Monday morning accident on the TRAX line near our campus,” principal Bruce Eschler said in the statement obtained by ABC 4.

Two trains traveling north and south were crossing at about the same time, according to KUTV. The teen watched the northbound train pass before lifting up the gate and going under it, the news outlet reported.

Utah Transit Authority told KUTV that authorities think the teen couldn’t see the southbound train and stepped in front of it.

“The gates were down, the lights were flashing, the bells were ringing,” UTA representative Carl Arky told the Tribune. “The bicyclist did not see that there were trains going in opposite directions at almost exactly the same time.”

Students and families will have access to licensed counselors and free services at a family center, ABC 4 reported.

“The death of a peer can be difficult for teenagers to process,” Eschler told ABC 4. “And our school has a plan in place to provide students with the appropriate support.”

This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Teen trying to cross tracks gets struck by oncoming train and dies, Utah officials say."