Man Sitting on Tracks Killed by Freight Train

A 48-year-old man was struck and killed by a freight train as he sat on the Southern Pacific railroad tracks in Newhall, authorities said Saturday.

The incident occurred at 10:40 p.m. Friday near San Fernando Road and 15th Street, said Mike Brown, a spokesman for Southern Pacific railroad.

The victim was seated in the middle of the tracks and made no attempt to move as the approaching Southern Pacific train sounded its whistle and clanged its bells, Brown said.

Southern Pacific authorities were handling the investigation, he said.

The dead man’s identity was not released because relatives had not been notified.

Nils Linder, an investigator for the Los Angeles County coroner, said the victim apparently was a transient.

The train was carrying 78 carloads--or 10,000 tons--of oil, Brown said.

It was traveling from Bakersfield to Los Angeles.