A woman was struck and killed by a freight train after she stepped onto tracks just east of Corona, authorities said Wednesday.
The victim, whose identity was not immediately released, was hit at 10:24 a.m. Tuesday on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line that passes underneath the Riverside (91) Freeway/Interstate 15 interchange, according to BNSF.
Agency spokeswoman Lena Kent told City News Service that the woman walked onto the tracks where there “is not a designated crossing.”
The eastbound train immediately stopped, and all rail traffic was brought to a standstill as Corona Fire and Police Department personnel, along with Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, reached the location.
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
It was unclear why the victim stepped into the train’s path.
Kent said the ensuing investigation, initially handled by the sheriff’s department but then turned over to BNSF Railway Police, required a complete closure of the tracks until just before 2 p.m. Tuesday.