Man fatally struck by train in West Berkeley

A man in his 30s died Wednesday after a train struck him in Berkeley, according to early reports.

Berkeley police and firefighters were dispatched to Bancroft Way and Fourth Street just after 3:30 p.m. for what initially was described as a medical call.

Firefighters quickly upgraded the incident to a rescue assignment as a precaution, according to emergency radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner.

First responders found the man next to the train and prepared to take him to the hospital. Within a few minutes, however, he was deceased.

Amtrak police are now handling the investigation.

The Scanner has asked Amtrak for details and will update this story when the agency responds.

The Federal Railroad Administration has identified trespassing along railroad rights-of-way as the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America.

"These incidents can affect everyone involved," Amtrak said previously, "those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers. They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings."

For more railroad safety information, visit Operation Lifesaver.