A child with a bicycle was struck and killed by a TRAX train early Monday after lifting a railroad crossing gate and going under it, authorities said.
The child’s name, age or gender has not been released, but Canyons School District confirmed Monday that the child killed was a Jordan High School student.
The fatal wreck occurred at about 7:30 a.m. at a railroad crossing near 8751 South and 160 East in Sandy, Utah Transit Authority spokesman Carl Arky said, calling it a “tragedy.”
“The gates were down, the lights were flashing, the bells were ringing,” Arky said. “The bicyclist did not see that there were trains going in opposite directions at almost exactly the same time.”
After the northbound train passed the crossing, Arky said, the cyclist “lifted up the gate just enough to get the bicycle under it. They didn’t see the train coming in the opposite direction.”
“If the warning lights are on and the gates are down,” he urged others, “please don’t try to go around or under them.”
The TRAX blue line was temporarily shut down for about three hours Monday morning between the Midvale Center station and the historic Sandy station as authorities investigated.
UTA guidance for pedestrians, bicyclists near TRAX lines:
• Never cross the tracks while the red lights are flashing or the crossing arms are moving.
• Always watch for trains—look both ways before crossing the tracks.
• Avoid dangerous distractions. Take off headphones and don’t text or talk on the phone when crossing tracks.
• Don’t bike or skate board on a station platform.
• Stand behind the yellow line when trains are approaching the station platform.
• Hold your young children’s hands when on the platform and while boarding and exiting the train.
• Never cross between train cars or across the trackway in an undesignated area — always use designated, safe crossings.
