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Teen hit crossing tracks in East Palestine

Morning Journal/Katie White Railroad crossings in the village, like this one along Main Street, were closed to traffic for several hours Tuesday night after a boy was struck and killed by a train.

EAST PALESTINE — Police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old boy who was struck by a train in the village Tuesday night.

Police Chief Jim Brown III and Lt. Don Johnson said the department was notified around 6:15 p.m. that someone had been struck on the railroad tracks between James and North Pleasant streets.

They said it appears the boy was attempting to walk across the tracks from the north to the south side of town when he was struck by the Norfolk and Southern train.

Once police arrived, they immediately notified the county coroner’s office, Johnson said.

The department did not wish to release the boy’s identity that evening until all relatives had been notified.

Whether the boy is an East Palestine resident was undetermined that evening, with Brown saying it appears the family was in the process of relocating, but that could not be confirmed.

The train on the south side of the tracks was still stopped around 9:30 p.m., while trains were running on the north side of the tracks shortly after 9 p.m.

The train that struck the boy was hauling tractor trailers.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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