GRESHAM, Ore. — A man died after he was hit by a MAX train in Gresham early Thursday morning, Gresham police and TriMet reported.
Gresham Police Public Information Officer Jarom Sweazey said responding officers found the man at the scene and he was already dead.
The man was within the restricted area of the train tracks somewhere between Southeast 212th Avenue and Northwest Bella Vista Avenue when he was hit at around 2:25 a.m. Thursday. Gresham police said the man may have been wearing headphones, and investigators are looking into whether that contributed to the crash.
"If somebody is distracted or they are listening to headphones or anything, they may not hear a train coming," Sweazey said.
Nick, a Gresham man living near the collision site, said he was shocked that someone would be walking on the tracks and wondered if Thursday morning fog contributed to the crash.
"I know it was foggy, so there’s a possibility they probably didn’t even see them walking because it was so foggy out here," Nick said.
Gresham police are reminding people to use crosswalks and prevent distractions while walking or driving near the tracks.
Blue Line service was disrupted for several hours, reopening around 6:30 a.m. Thursday. During the disruption, shuttle buses provided service for the area.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the tip line for Gresham police at 503-618-2719.
At least two other people have been hit and killed by MAX trains in the same area of Gresham over the past two years. In September 2021, a woman died after she was hit by a MAX train traveling west between the Civic Drive station and Ruby Junction, and then in November 2022, a man died after he "inadvertently" walked in front of a train traveling west in the area of East Burnside Street and Southeast 197th Avenue.
Reporting at the time said both victims were inside the restricted area of the tracks when they were hit.
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