Man killed after being hit by Amtrak train in Pierce County has been identified
A man killed when he was struck by an Amtrak passenger train in Lakewood Jan. 1 was identified by the Pierce County medical examiner Wednesday.
Eric L. Johnson, 40, of Tacoma died from multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office. The incident has been ruled an accident.
Rescue crews had to cut through a fence along Interstate 5 to reach Johnson after he was hit by a northbound Coast Starlight train headed to Tacoma. Johnson died at the scene.
Amtrak police, who are investigating the accident, have not yet responded to a request for more information. On Tuesday, a statement from Amtrak said Johnson was trespassing at the time he was hit.
No one on board the train, which originated in Los Angeles, was injured.
