ISOCO CO., Mich. (WNEM) – A 39-year-old Hale woman has died after being hit by a train in East Tawas over the weekend.

An East Tawas public safety officer responded to a report that a pedestrian was walking near a moving train and fell shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Friday, August 16.

According to the East Tawas Department of Public Safety, the train driver reported the incident to Lake State Railway dispatch, which in turn reported it to Iosco County dispatch.

When the public safety officer, assisted by a Tawas City police officer, arrived at the scene, he found the woman unconscious. Her injuries were “obviously” life-threatening, the agency said. She was lying next to the tracks on the north side of the tracks.

Emergency services were requested while rescuers began life-saving measures, the public safety agency said. The victim, later identified as a 39-year-old woman from Hale, had serious injuries consistent with a train accident.

Emergency medical services took her to MyMichigan Medical Center in Tawas, where she later died, according to public safety officials.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was walking west on the railroad tracks on W. Bay Street, about 15 meters west of Newman Street, the Department of Public Safety said.

According to witnesses, the victim was drinking alcoholic beverages at Barnacle Bill’s and telling others that she was trying to jump on the train, the Public Safety Department said. According to witnesses, she heard the train whistle and immediately left the bar.

The Public Safety Department said the train’s engineer said he saw the woman as he passed Newman Street and in the rearview mirror he saw her attempt to board the train and fall to the ground. The engineer immediately stopped the slow-moving train and called his dispatch center.

The Public Safety Department said alcohol may have been a factor in the incident. An autopsy is pending.

The investigation is ongoing, as is the search for further witnesses or videos of the accident.

“On behalf of the entire East Tawas Public Safety family, we extend our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the deceased,” the Department of Public Safety said.

If you have any information regarding the accident, you are asked to contact East Tawas Public Safety at 989-930-1526 or email Chief Anthony.

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