Crime & Safety
El Cerrito High Honor Student Killed by Train
An El Cerrito High School senior who was on the honor roll was struck and killed by a train in Richmond around 3 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
A 17-year-old El Cerrito High School student was hit and killed by a freight train about 3 a.m. Sunday in Richmond, according to authorities.
The student, whose name was not released by school officials, was "was a senior, was on track to graduating this year and was an honor roll student," said Marin Trujillo, a spokesman for the West Contra Costa Unified School district.
The 17-year-old youth was struck by a Union Pacific freight train near the intersection of Cutting and Carlsen boulevards, reported the Contra Costa Times, citing Richmond police Lt. Lori Curran.
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Police didn't know why he was on the tracks, the newspaper said.
A source at the school said the news of his death was a shock to the campus Monday. The school's health center and staff were "made available to students who needed to speak to someone to process this very sad news," Trujillo said.
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"Our thoughts and hearts are with the family of this ECHS student," he said.
The school will hold a gathering Wednesday to remember their classmate, the Times said.
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