A pedestrian was killed Friday morning after being struck by a North Bay commuter train near a railroad trestle bridge in Petaluma, police said. The Petaluma Police Department said the pedestrian was killed by a train operated by Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit, or SMART, in an area surrounded by open fields with no nearby roadways crossing the train tracks. Emergency responders from the Petaluma Police and Fire departments were called to the scene after SMART received an emergency call. Police said the train conductor remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators. There were passengers on the train, but no other injuries were reported. Police are investigating why someone would be on the tracks near that section of the SMART route. They warned residents against walking along railroad tracks and said safety barriers and fences are in place to keep people safe. “The Petaluma Police Department would like to remind the community that railroad tracks are not for pedestrian travel,” the department said in a statement. “At no time should they be climbed on or over to gain access.”
Authorities thanked the Petaluma Fire Department for its quick response and SMART for assisting during the investigation.
The incident remains under investigation by the Petaluma Police Department’s Traffic Unit. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at (707) 781-1262…