5-year-old dies after being struck by train in Spanish Fork

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A 5-year-old boy died Sunday after suffering "very severe injuries" when he was hit by a train.

He was playing on the tracks at the crossing at 400 North 1200 East before 5:30 p.m. with one or two other juveniles, according to Lt. Matt Johnson with the Spanish Fork Police Department. Exactly how many kids were there has not been determined.

The train's engineer said he was traveling at about 40 mph toward Spanish Fork Canyon when he saw the kids on the tracks. One of them did not jump off, Johnson said.

Another witness who was at the intersection told police that she saw kids on the tracks and attempted to alert them to the oncoming train by honking. The witness said there was ample time to get off the tracks, but the victim "froze," Johnson said.

The boy was transported to a local hospital and later died. Police are attempting to locate the other juvenile or juveniles.