A 36-year-old woman believed to be from the metro area died shortly after being hit by a train in Weld County north of Gilcrest, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office said today.
According to investigators, witnesses said the woman was walking northbound along the rail tracks about 11:48 a.m. a quarter-mile north of the intersection of Weld County Road 44 and U.S. 85.
As the train approached, the woman either stumbled or squatted down in front of the northbound train.
The engineer blew the whistle and applied the emergency brakes, but the woman didn’t respond and was hit by the train, according to Undersheriff Margie Martinez.
The woman was transported by helicopter to North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, where she died at about 2 p.m.
Martinez said a vehicle belonging to the woman was located in Gilcrest. The reason she was in the area is under investigation, Martinez added.
The woman’s name is being withheld until the Weld County Coroner’s Office can notify next of kin.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
