ANOTHER FATALITY ON R7

The Inquirer reports yet another tresspasser-related fatality on the Regional Rail system...

On Saturday night, according to SEPTA's Gary Fairfax, an elderly male entered the right-of-way two miles south of Holmesburg Jct in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. At around 9:35pm, the victim, who was not identified as of this morning, was struck by the #1734 train (R7 Trenton to Chestnut Hill East), and pronounced dead at the scene. The #1734 had 157 passengers on board en route to Center City. Normal service was restored within 45 minutes; however, R7 and Amtrak trains were able to operate past the scene, though with delays.

This marks the seventh fatality on SEPTA's Regional Rail system (including incidents on Amtrak rights-of-way - Northeast and Keystone corridors - over which SEPTA operates) in the past three months. The others:

• Sunday, 25 July: Two teens were struck and killed on the Amtrak NEC by Amtrak's Three Rivers (#40) near SEPTA's Tacony station (R7 Trenton) after their car broke down on I-95. The vicitms were reportedly in search of help after their car broke down on I-95 South.
• Thursday, 15 July: Donald Smith, 77, of Falls Twp, Bucks County, was struck and killed on the NEC by SEPTA's #778 (R7 Trenton to Chestnut Hill East) near Morrisville. The Bucks County coronor reported that Mr. Smith had a history of dementia and hearing problems, according to the Bucks County Courier Times of Levittown.
• Sunday, 4 July: Robert Malley, 43, of the Ardsley section of Abington Twp, was struck and killed at Roslyn station. According to AP reports, Malley de-boarded the #2167 (R2 Warminster to R1 Airport via Center City) and either lost his balance or stepped off the train as it departed Roslyn. SEPTA's Minister of Mis-Information Richard Maloney reported that the railroad crossing signals at Easton and Susquehanna Rds were not functioning.
• Tuesday, 8 June: Daniel Sands, 18, of Hatboro, and an unidentified friend, were walking along the R2 tracks between Hatboro and Willow Grove stations in Upper Moreland. At around 10:50am, Sands was struck by the #4127 (R2 Warminster to R1 Airport via Center City) after his friend stepped off the tracks and thought Sands was on the opposite side of the train.
• Monday, 7 June: An unidenfied male in his late 20s-early 30s committed suicide by jumping in front of the #6512 (R5 Center City to Lansdale) near North Hills, according to Abington Township police.