Was it suicide or an accident?
That’s what authorities were trying to figure out Tuesday after an Amtrak train killed a south Orange County resident on the tracks near the San Clemente Pier.
The victim was struck about 8:10 Monday night in the area of Mariposa Avenue, which is north of the pier, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
He was killed by southbound Amtrak train No. 591, according to Metrolink.
The tracks run close to the pier and a pedestrian crossing is just in front of the structure that includes two restaurants and facilities for fishing.
The dead man was a resident of south Orange County, the sheriff’s department reported, but his name and age were withheld pending release by the coroner’s office
The investigation of the death blocked the tracks in the area overnight, affecting Amtrak and Metrolink operations. Buses were used to shuttle Metrolink passengers between the San Clemente and Oceanside stations, according to a Metrolink.
There were no further details available about the death.
—City News Service