Katrease Stafford, and Elissa Robinson

Detroit Free Press

A man was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Royal Oak on Wednesday morning as it traveled from Pontiac to Chicago, authorities confirmed.

Royal Oak Fire Capt. Jim Hodson said the man was on the tracks where they intersect with Catalpa Drive when he was hit. The incident happened around 5:30 a.m., Hodson said. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the rail service learned of it around 6:15 a.m.

According to Magliari, the man was trespassing on the tracks. It's not clear why he was there when the crash happened.

Magliari said studies in the Chicago area and Michigan show that about half of the train accidents involving pedestrians are intentional acts of people trespassing.

"I don't know if that was the intention in this case," Magliari said.

The man's identity has not been released, and police continue to investigate. No passengers on the train were injured, police said.

Magliari said the train is part of Amtrak's Wolverine line and was on its way to Chicago when the incident happened.

For "compassionate reasons," the crew will be replaced by a new crew, he said. He added that when traumatic incidents like this occur, the crew has the right to request a replacement for the remainder of the trip.

Magliari said Amtrak and the crew's union has a support system in place ready to offer the workers therapy services. Magliari also said the train will continue on to Chicago once police complete their investigation.

"These incidents are always tragic," Magliari said. "Not only for the friends and family of the person who was trespassing, but also for our crews. And it's also delaying our trains. This affects many, many people, and it's all avoidable if people would not trespass and if people would heed the warning of the trains."

Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759

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