Tragedy in Durham: Death of person hit by Amtrak Downeaster ruled a suicide
DURHAM — The death of a person struck by an Amtrak Downeaster train in the area of Bennett Road has been ruled a suicide by the New Hampshire medical examiner.
The person who died, identified only as female, was found dead about 9:20 a.m. Friday on the railroad tracks near the Bennett Road overpass adjacent to the Doe Farm parking area, according to Durham police. Police said the person's family was notified and no further information will be released.
Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley earlier in the day said officers responded to a report of a person struck by the train and said police wre investigating.
Police were joined by the Durham Fire Department and McGregor Memorial EMS in responding to the incident, according to police.
Amtrak Downeaster trains pass through Durham on the Portland to Boston route. Train service was temporarily halted while crews were working adjacent to the tracks. Service resumed later in the day.
Town Administrator Todd Selig said the town works diligently to make sure residents know they should stay off the railroad tracks, in coordination with the Northern New England Rail Authority and Amtrak.
“They are always very cognizant of safety protocols, and they work hard to adhere to them," he said. “It is unsafe. Those trains move quickly and sometimes it might be impossible to get out of the way in time.”
Portland, Maine, resident Carol Walker Aten, formerly of Exeter, said she was on the train, traveling to Stratham to visit family.
"The conductors told us the train had encountered something on the track, and had to figure out what it was," she said. "When they came back, they told us someone was on the tracks and had been hit. They said police and EMTs were responding and we were going to have wait for a while."
If you need help
Call 988 for the mental health crisis line in New Hampshire or call 1-833-710-6477.
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Durham NH: Death of person hit by train ruled a suicide
