PICO RIVERA >> Suicide is suspected after a man was struck by a freight train on a bridge spanning the San Gabriel River in Pico Rivera on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Deputies first received a report at 3:29 p.m. that a person had been spotted on the train tracks near a bridge spanning the river just south of Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Noe Garcia said.
Officials soon received a second call indicating the person on the tracks had been struck by a westbound Union Pacific freight train, the lieutenant said.
The impact through the pedestrian from the bridge and down into the shallow waters of the San Gabriel River below, he said. Paramedics pulled the man from the river and pronounced him dead at the scene.
The train was traveling at about 49 mph when the pedestrian was firs spotted, Garcia said. No injuries to personnel on the train were reported.
The identity of the dead man had not been determined Wednesday evening. He was estimated to be in his 30s.
PHOTO by Keith Durflinger