Person dead after being hit by a train in Durham

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Durham Police Department (DPD) is conducting a death investigation after being dispatched to an accident involving a pedestrian and a train Saturday afternoon.

According to police, officers responded around 1 p.m. to a report of someone being hit by a train in the 3500 block of Hillsborough Road.

The person was pronounced dead at the scene, police confirm.

Amtrak released a statement Saturday afternoon saying in part:

"On Saturday, March 16, Amtrak train 72 was traveling from Charlotte to Raleigh at approx. 1:01 p.m. when an individual trespassing on the track came into contact with the train west of Durham. There have been no reported injuries to the 178 passengers or crew onboard. Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America, and railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America."

There are no further details at this time.

This incident comes days after an Amtrak train hit and killed a man in Durham. His car got stuck between the stop arms, and the passenger train hit it causing the car to burst into flames, police say.