Grand Forks police officers and Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department deputies investigate the scene near the Amtrak Station Friday . (Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald)
Law enforcement are investigating a death Friday evening near the Amtrak station in Grand Forks.
Police were called around 6 p.m. to the railroad tracks that cross DeMers Avenue near North 55th Street for a welfare check. A train was blocking DeMers Avenue as Grand Forks police secured the area.
Dispatchers said during the incident there was a report of someone lying on the tracks. Shortly after, the Grand Forks County coroner was called to the scene. The Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department, Altru ambulance, Grand Forks Fire Department and BNSF staff also were called to the railroad tracks.
A deputy at the scene told a Herald reporter that officers were investigating a fatality but did not give specifics.
Law enforcement officers have released few details on the incident. The Sheriff's Department and police declined to confirm the fatality and would not release the nature of the call, other than to say officers were investigating a welfare check. When asked to speak to a supervisor about the incident, staff with the two departments told the Herald no one was available to answer questions and that the Sheriff's Department was preparing a news release that may be issued Saturday afternoon.
Earlier this year, 43-year-old Cody McDougal of Grand Forks was seriously injured when he was struck by a train near a downtown crossing.
According to police, McDougal appeared to be walking north and attempted to cross the tracks near Kittson Avenue and South Fourth Street when an eastbound train struck and dragged him March 11.
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Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
I was afraid from the headline that it was going to be a RR employee but it must have been someone else. Not that that lessens the grief that it brings someone but I always fear, despise, absolutely hate and feel sorrow when learning of the death of one of my fellow rails.
Grand Forks isn't a place we hear much about, way out here. But every now and then something does happen, like a death on the ol' GN/BN mainline through town. There are so few details in this case... Expect more later.
More:
Police investigating deadly train accident in Grand Forks
Grand Forks authorities are investigating a deadly train accident in Grand Forks near the Amtrak station where a person lying on the tracks was hit by a train. It happened just before 6 p.m. on Demers Avenue. Photo by April Baumgarten / Forum News Service
GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Authorities are investigating a deadly train accident in Grand Forks near the Amtrak station.
It happened just before 6 p.m. on Demers Avenue.
The engineer of the BNSF train called 911 saying a person was lying on the tracks and he was unable to stop.
Demers Avenue was closed for several hours as sheriff's deputies investigated, including why the person was on the tracks in the first place.
The county coroner was also on scene.
The train remained in place as investigators worked to piece together what happened, including why the person was on the tracks.
The train was allowed to move along and Demers Avenue reopened.
-- Edited by Uke on Saturday 11th of June 2016 01:44:18 PM
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Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
