SEPTA Worker Killed by Train
By KELLY BAYLISS
Updated 9:18 PM EDT, Thu, Nov 5, 2009
A SEPTA worker died this morning after being hit by an R2 train in the Fern Rock section of Philadelphia.
The victim was a track inspector, according to SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney. He was hit around 8:30 a.m. while walking on the tracks between the Melrose Park Station and Fern Rock Transportation Center.
"I heard the train's horn blaring for a good few seconds. This alarmed me because the horn is usually only blown at a crossing or if there is activity on the tracks," passenger Shawn Hyska said.
"I have been a SEPTA rider for the past eight years and this was the saddes day I've ever had on the train," Hyska said.
Service on the Warminster (R2), West Trenton (R3) and Lansdale/Doylestown (R5) Regional Rail Lines was suspended until about 11:30 a.m., stranding more than 600 commuters.
This is the second SEPTA crisis since the strike started. On Wednesday, a car on the R5 regional rail accidentally caught fire -- again during the morning rush -- near the Overbrook Station.
SEPTA has not released the worker's identity because they're trying to notify family members.
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 9:36 AM EDT
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