UPDATE: Santa Clarita Metrolink Train Death In Newhall ID’ed By Coroner

Posted by: Perry Smith in Sheriff News February 20, 2014 - 8:54 am 0 212 Views

A spokesman with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office identified a man who was killed by a Metrolink train Tuesday in Newhall.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Joe Miller, 23, of Las Vegas, was fatally struck by a northbound train around 2:30 p.m.

Detective Torres of the Los Angeles County Homicide Bureau is investigating the death.

The death is being investigated as a suicide, and foul play is not believed to be a factor, he said.

An official with the Coroner’s Office said the autopsy would be performed Thursday. Torres said Thursday morning that he would need the autopsy results before he officially could confirm the circumstances around the death.

FROM ORIGINAL STORY:

“Sadly, an individual did step onto our tracks this afternoon, the incident did result in a fatality,” said Scott Johnson, spokesman for MetroLink.

Homicide detectives will investigate any death that involves a vehicle or not suspected to be natural causes, according to a Sheriff’s Station officials.

Detectives have not made any statement regarding the circumstances of the death; however, it was initially reported as a suicide by deputies on scene.

“The train that was invovled was northbound No. 209,” Johnson said. “The ultimate destination was going to be Via Princessa.”

“The incident occurred just south of our Newhall Station,” Johnson said, noting the train was about 10 miles from its destination.

“The incident occurred at a nonpedestrian area,” Johnson said. “There was no reason for that individual to be where the individual was.”

No additional details are being released at this time.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies are handling the investigation.

“There were 95 passengers on the train,” Johnson said. “At this point, because of its proximity, two buses are en route to taken those passengers to their final destination (Newhall to Via Princessa).”

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.