Middle-schooler dies in train collision in Merced, officials say

A Hoover Middle School student died following a train collision Thursday in Merced, according to police and school officials.

The identity and age of the boy were withheld pending notification of his family, according to a news release. The Merced County Sheriff’s Office is still waiting for the coroner’s office to confirm the boy’s identity through dental records, Deputy Daryl Allen said Friday morning.

Merced City School District officials said Friday police have spoken with the family of a Hoover Middle School seventh-grader investigators believed was killed in a train collision.

The fatal train-pedestrian collision was reported at 3:47 p.m. Thursday, just east of the G Street train overpass off 23rd Street, police said.

Officers found the boy near the railroad tracks dead from injuries “consistent with having been struck by a train,” the release states.

Capt. Bimley West said the boy was a seventh-grade student who investigators believe was wearing headphones while walking on the tracks.

“It’s a horrible thing, so unfortunate that this happened,” West said.

The site of the collision is near Hoover Middle School and blocks away from Yosemite High and Sequoia High.

Merced City School District released a statement: “We understand that there was a tragic accident involving a train and a minor. ... We know that Merced Police Department has said it was a seventh-grader. It’s very tragic and our hearts go out to the victim’s family.”

A carnival that was scheduled for Friday evening at Hoover Middle School was canceled as a result of the student’s death, according to district spokeswoman Sara Sandrik. Extra counselors were at the middle school campus Friday to offer support for students and staffers, Sandrik said.

Counselors would remain on campus for students and staffers for as long as needed, according to Sandrik.

Capt. Don King said the death does not appear suspicious but urged anyone from the public who may have witnessed anything related to the boy’s death to contact police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Rey Alvarez at 209-385-6905. Information can be sent through anonymous text messages by texting the number “TIP411,” or 847411, and including the word “Comvip” as the text message keyword.

This story was originally published May 2, 2019 at 4:40 PM.