Kent Police are investigating another fatal train collision that killed a 67-year-old Kent man on Wednesday morning, Feb. 4 near East James Street.
The King County Medical Examiners Office identified the victim as Brian Thomas Hawkins, 67, of Kent. Coroners listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries.
This is the second fatal train collision this week. As we previously reported, a 64-year-old Kent woman was killed by a train near the 1000 block of First Avenue North on Monday, Feb. 2.
Officers, Puget Sound Fire and King County Medics were dispatched at 11:57 a.m. Feb. 4 to the northbound railroad tracks near East James Street after a report that a train had struck a pedestrian.
First responders located the man unconscious and unresponsive and immediately began lifesaving efforts.
Sadly, Hawkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told officers the man was sitting on the railroad tracks in a wheelchair as the train approached. The train conductor reported the train was traveling between 35 and 36 miles per hour and that the horn was used in an attempt to alert the pedestrian. The conductor also stated the train attempted to stop immediately.
Police reminded the public that trains can appear farther away and slower than they actually are and urged people to use caution around railroad tracks.
“Trains moving on tracks can appear deceptively further away and as travelling much slower than their actual speed,” police said, and recommended that residents read this website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/railroad-crossing.
Everyone at South King Media sends out their deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Brian.
