Death Investigation Halts Commuter Rail Train for Nearly Three Hours

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Update: Wednesday, 11:43 a.m.

The 17-year-old struck and killed by the outbound commuter rail train near 25 Buick Street was a Boston University student, the school said in a release. His identity is being withheld until his family is notified.

“The University’s thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family,” dean of students Kenneth Elmore said.

Previously:

A death investigation Tuesday night halted an MBTA commuter rail train for nearly three hours, after investigators believe a man was struck and killed while trespassing on the tracks.

A Framingham-Worcester Line train departed from South Station at 11:30 p.m., stopping just after Yawkey Station, in Allston near Boston University. One passenger aboard the train said they were told there was a medical emergency.

“No real explanation and then finally the answer came back that there was something found on the side of the tracks, perhaps a dead body and detectives were called. It just escalated from there,” he told WBZ-TV.

Transit police said they arrived at the scene around 12:15 a.m. and discovered a “lifeless body.” While police have not released the person’s name, they estimate he was roughly 18 years old. Foul play is not suspected.

Last week, a bicyclist was killed by an oncoming Fitchburg Line train in Somerville, when he crossed tracks even as traffic warning gates were down, police said.