Woman struck and killed by train near Sumner
October 5, 2009 · Updated 4:08 PM
The Pierce County Medical Examiner's office is working to determined the identity of a woman found dead along the railroad tracks about 10 p.m. Sept. 29.
Sumner Communications Director Carmen Palmer said the woman's body was found about 10 p.m. along the tracks in the 4000 block of East Valley Highway.
Palmer said the body was discovered about 200 feet south of the nearest driveway along the highway. She said there are no road crossings in the area.
"We're still waiting for toxicology reports on the woman, but we presume it may be an accident," said Palmer. "There was no identification found on or near the body."
Sumner police, along with investigators from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, are investigating the woman's death.
Palmer said the woman's body was spotted by crews on a southbound freight train, and investigators believe she may have been struck by a northbound Amtrak train.
Gus Melonas of Burlington Northern Santa Fe told The Associated Press an Amtrak train traveling from Portland to Seattle hit the woman about 9:20 p.m. north of Sumner.
The tracks were closed for about three hours as police and railroad investigators looked for clues.
Palmer said police and investigators continued their search for clues the following morning.
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