Coroner identifies pedestrian struck and killed by freight train in Merced

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a train last week as 36-year-old Joseph Joshua Abarca of Merced, according to Deputy Michael Domingue.

At about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, Merced police officers responded to a report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a train in the area of R Street and 16th Street, according to Sgt. Nathan McKinnon. Officers arrived on scene to the train blocking the roadway and located the man deceased just west of the intersection.

According to McKinnon, the train was traveling west a the time of the collision. Police said it is unknown just what the man was doing on the tracks at the time of the collision and staff aboard the train reported that it appeared the man may have been trying to beat the train across the tracks. The train’s operator cooperated with authorities and the railroad crossing was closed for more than two hours to allow for a replacement crew to take over operation of the train.

McKinnon said the Merced Police Department is investigating the fatal collision and will forward the department’s findings to the Union Pacific Railroad Police.