Crime & Safety
Girl Fatally Struck by CSX Train in Riverdale Park
Police said the 17-year-old was walking along the tracks north of the Queensbury Road crossing when she was hit.
Update, 11:01 p.m.:
Prince George's County Police have identified the victim as Mary Gaffney, 17, of Bowie.
The collision is believed to have been an accident, police said, as Gaffney was wearing headphones at the time she was struck.
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NBC4 reports that the train was traveling about 35 mph when it hit Gaffney. The engineer reportedly made multiple unsuccessful attempts to warn her.
Original article:
Find out what's happening in Riverdale Park-University Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police say a 17-year-old girl was struck and killed by a train Wednesday night in Riverdale Park.
The victim was walking along the tracks north of the Queensbury Road crossing when she was hit by a northbound CSX freight train around 11:44 p.m., according to Capt. Patrick Timmons. The train carried the girl some distance before coming to a halt, he said.
Emergency personnel found the victim unresponsive when they arrived at the scene. She was transported to Prince George's Hospital Center and later pronounced dead.
Timmons said it was initially difficult to determine whether the girl had been on the tracks by accident at the time of the collision.
The investigation has been turned over to Prince George's County Police. The victim's name has not been released.
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