A 21-year-old Peoria resident died after being struck by a train in Flagstaff early Sunday morning, prompting an investigation and a renewed warning from police about the dangers of railroad tracks.
Flagstaff police said officers responded around 2:15 a.m. to reports of a pedestrian being hit near San Francisco Street and the downtown area. The victim, identified as Jason Cataldo, had injuries consistent with a train-pedestrian collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe Cataldo was lying on the tracks when the collision occurred. Police have not released additional information about why he was on the tracks or provided details about the circumstances leading up to the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing, while Flagstaff police emphasized that walking or entering railroad tracks outside designated crossings is both illegal and extremely dangerous. The department urged pedestrians to follow crossing signals, gates and warning lights and to cross tracks only at authorized locations when it is safe.
