Pedestrian Fatally Hit By Amtrak Train In Gaithersburg

(Updated at 6:10 p.m. Tuesday): GAITHERSBURG, MD — An Amtrak train headed to Rockville for a medical emergency fatally struck a pedestrian in Gaithersburg Tuesday afternoon, officials said. Commuters can expect major delays as the railroad is currently closed.

The Amtrak train was heading from Chicago to D.C., but was making a detour in Rockville because a passenger had a medical emergency on board. EMS units were waiting at the Rockville station for the passenger, officials said.

As the train was heading to Rockville, it hit a man crossing the railroad at South Summit Ave. and East Diamond Ave, near the Gaithersburg Station, just before 2 p.m. The unidentified victim was pronounced dead on the scene, officials said.

The victim’s identity will be released once family notifications have been made, police said.

EMS extracted the Amtrak passenger suffering from the non-life-threatening medical emergency from the train and transported them to a local hospital.

Affected Routes Tuesday Afternoon:

All northbound and southbound CSX Train traffic is stopped between Germantown and Rockville (Frederick and D.C.), spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

MARC Trains 873 and 891 are expected to depart from Union Station in D.C. on time, but will not continue beyond Rockville Station until the tracks beyond are opened for traffic, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

Frederick and Monocacy passengers may use the 515 MTA Commuter Bus service from Shady Grove Metro station. Commuter Bus has secured some additional buses from Shady Grove, but capacity is limited, officials said.

METRO is open for affected MARC passengers.

This is a developing story. Patch will update this post as more information becomes available.

Photos via Pete Piringer