Woman, 90, Struck, Killed on CSX Tracks in Hyattsville

A fatality on the near Farragut Street was not a suicide, as has been discussed.

In fact, the death of Marie Savoy, 90, on the night of April 15 was an accident according to Lt. Mark Roski, of the .

Patch received information given from Roski to city spokeswoman Abby Sandel today indicating that Savoy was walking home with her daughter after running an errand when she was struck by a heading toward Washington, D.C.

Savoy, a resident of the 4600 block of Burlington Road, was crossing the tracks as a train likely traveling 60 to 70 miles per hour came through the area and hit her, killing her. She was not dragged by the train, Roski said. Her daughter's screams alerted a officer who was the first member of law enforcement to arrive on the scene.

"There are signs posted at some points informing pedestrians that it is dangerous--and illegal--to cross the tracks," Sandel said. "However, we know that pedestrians routinely cross along the stretch. I haven’t measured the distance, but the alternative is to walk over the Route One overpass. It’s a significant additional distance."

In train-related accidents, CSX assists, but does not investigate, deaths, Sandel said. If the death is believed to be a homicide, Prince George’s County investigates. In the case of suicide/accidental death, the jurisdiction investigates. The jurisdiction is determined by where the victim was standing before being hit. This can be complicated if the victim is dragged by the train, she said.

Ealier this month,