Child Playing on Tracks Struck, Killed by Train

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP) – Authorities say a 5-year-old boy reportedly playing on railroad tracks near his Utah home has died after being hit by a freight train.

Police spokesman Lt. Matt Johnson says three young children were playing at the tracks in Spanish Fork late Sunday afternoon when the train passed going about 40 mph.

He says the boy’s 7-year-old sister and a 7-year-old male cousin managed to jump to safety, but the younger child was struck.

The engineer of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotive says the youngster appeared to have “froze.” The officer says the train didn’t have time to stop.

He says that the child was rushed to a local hospital and then flown to one in Salt Lake City, 50 miles north, but he died from his injuries.