S.F.: Muni Metro train kills man at Powell St.

Fare inspectors Cheryl Garrison and Justice Jay speak with a police officer at the Powell Station on February 15, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. MUNI stops at Powell and the Civic Center were closed because of what fare inspectors are calling a medical emergency. less Fare inspectors Cheryl Garrison and Justice Jay speak with a police officer at the Powell Station on February 15, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. MUNI stops at Powell and the Civic Center were closed because of ... more Photo: Codi Mills, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Codi Mills, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close S.F.: Muni Metro train kills man at Powell St. 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

A man died after being struck by a Muni Metro train at the Powell Street Station on Saturday afternoon, shutting down underground service for hours and making it harder to get to the annual Chinese New Year Parade.

The victim, a 45-year-old whose identity was not immediately released, was hit by an outbound train around 2:40 p.m., San Francisco Fire Department Division Chief Lorrie Kalos said.

The operator of the train was also transported to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being hurt while hitting the brakes on the train.

"The cause is still under investigation, but anytime something like this happens, it's tragic," Kalos said.

A preliminary investigation suggests the man may have fallen off the platform, said police spokesman Gordon Shyy.

Access to Muni Metro at Powell Street was blocked off and underground service stopped at Van Ness Avenue. Service did not resume until nearly 6:30 p.m. Bus service was being added on Market Street to avoid significant delays, said Muni spokesman Paul Rose.

With the Chinese New Year Parade beginning along Market Street at 5:30, traffic downtown was a mess, but Rose said that shuttle buses changed their routes as necessary and that Muni personnel were on hand at the Van Ness and Embarcadero stations to assist passengers.