In Natick, at least 3 people have been killed by Commuter Rail trains in the past year
NATICK — For at least the third time in less than a year, someone was killed by a Commuter Rail train in Natick.
On Monday, a Natick man in his 50s was struck and killed by a train along East Central Street near the Wellesley line, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.
The District Attorney's Office has not released the victim's identity.
Authorities said the man was struck by a MBTA Commuter Line train traveling outbound, from South Station to Framingham. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
More:Man killed after being struck by train in downtown Ashland
The incident is the latest of several fatalities involving pedestrians struck by trains in MetroWest over the past year.
Last March, a woman was struck and killed by a train on East Central Street. The MBTA Police said it appeared the woman took her own life.
In June, a man was struck and killed by a train near the Natick Veterans of Foreign Wars facility on West Central Street. What led him to the tracks has not been determined, authorities said.
And just last month, on Jan. 19, Jason Haywood, 46, of Ashland, was struck and killed by a commuter rail as he was returning home from buying groceries. That case was an accident.
More:Sister of man killed by train in Ashland calls for more safety measures
Haywood's sister, Kinyana Watson of Framingham, called on the MBTA to add more safety measures near its tracks, such as fencing, improved signage and more lights, to help prevent such incidents.
In a statement, the MBTA said it took safety seriously.
"With safety as the top priority, the MBTA, Keolis and MBTA Transit Police remain committed to actively raising awareness of the severe dangers of trespassing along active track areas and grade crossings through a long-standing partnership with Operation Lifesaver, a public safety nonprofit dedicated to rail safety education," MBTA officials said in their statement. "Oftentimes, individuals traversing on or near Commuter Rail tracks are unable to hear a train approaching until it is too late due to a train’s high speed. Even when a Commuter Rail train is not scheduled, freight trains and other services operate on the Commuter Rail network around the Greater Boston area. Through its partnership with Operation Lifesaver, the MBTA continues to engage the public through educational initiatives about these life-threatening risks in order to prevent potential tragedies."
Monday's death in Natick remains under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Massachusetts State Police, MBTA Transit Police and the Natick Police Department.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Death of Natick man struck by train is under investigation
