A 24-year-old woman was struck by a train and killed Monday evening in Sylmar.
The victim was struck by Palmdale-bound Metrolink train number 285 just after 6 p.m. at the station in the 12200 block of Frank Modugno Drive, near the border with San Fernando, according to Chris Gutierrez of Metrolink. She had reportedly fallen off the platform before she was killed.
"The conductor said someone fell off the platform, was struck by the train and was killed," passenger Kevin McCrory said.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
"Suddenly I felt a bump that I don't usually feel, and I've been going on this for months," passenger Eddar Vargas said.
A witness alleged that he had seen a young couple talking near the edge of the platform.
"I saw her and she was like, I don't know, having a little fun," the witness told NBC4. "Then it looks like she lost her balance and she fell down the way."
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A brief but unsuccessful rescue effort was made.
"Her boyfriend and two other citizens tried to pull her up before the train got here," LAPD Mission Division Captain Peter Casey said. "Unfortunately, the train is ocming in, traveling at 35 mph, unable to stop."
A news photographer at the scene said the pedestrian's body was near the platform at the Sylmar Station.
The fatality halted train traffic through the station and officials were arranging bus bridge service to get passengers to their destinations, Gutierrez said.
