Update, 6 p.m. Thursday: The woman struck and killed by a freight train near Bird Point on Wednesday was 30-year-old Kristal Lavender, the Alaska Railroad said in a statement Thursday evening. Next of kin have been notified and the investigation is ongoing, according to the railroad.
Original story:
A 30-year-old woman walking a dog died Wednesday afternoon after she was struck by a southbound freight train near Bird Point, the Alaska Railroad said.
Officers responded to Mile 96 of the Seward Highway at around 12:45 p.m. in reference to a train versus pedestrian collision, according to police spokeswoman Cherie Zajdzinski-Shirey.
The incident involved two women walking along the tracks with four dogs near a curve, according to a statement from the railroad. One of the women and one of the dogs were hit and died.
The mile-long train originated from Anchorage and was headed to Whittier, the railroad said.
Police as well as medics responded, Zajdzinski-Shirey said. Railroad security also responded.
The pedestrian, who has not been identified, was declared dead at the scene.
The 100-foot right-of-way on either side of the tracks is closed to the public because it’s an active rail corridor, the railroad said in its statement. “Even so, train crews routinely sound the train horn when approaching the curve in this area.”
The Alaska Railroad is investigating the incident.