Woman killed by train in Merced identified

A woman who died Saturday after she was hit by a train off Glen Avenue in Merced has been identified as 51-year-old Merced resident Darla Hooten.

Hooten, who was identified by the Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office, recently was taken to the Marie Green Center in Merced and seen for mental health issues, Deputy Daryl Allen said.

Merced police received first reports of the incident at 3:03 p.m. Saturday, according to Merced Capt. Bimley West.

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was stopped at the crossing as Merced officers and deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office were investigating the scene.

BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent told the Sun-Star the train originated in Stockton and carried various freight. BNSF is participating in the investigation.

No new information on the incident was released by Merced police Saturday night.

Merced resident Lawrence Mattos said he was heading west in a car on East Santa Fe Avenue when he saw in the rear mirror a woman running from the Evergreen Park Apartments at Glen Avenue and East Santa Fe Avenue.

Mattos said the woman ran across East Santa Fe Avenue toward the train tracks.

“She was waving her arms,” Mattos said. “She met up at the tracks with perfect timing with the train.”

A warrant was issued for Hooten Tuesday in Merced Superior Court for failing to appear for a misdemeanor assault charge, according to public court records.

A public defender assigned to that case didn’t immediately return requests for comment Saturday night.

This story was originally published August 26, 2017 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Woman killed by train in Merced identified."