Person struck, killed by Caltrain in Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A commuter train hit and killed a person near the Santa Clara station Monday evening, a Caltrain spokeswoman said.

The person was hit at about 5:30 p.m. by a northbound train at the Santa Clara station, Caltrain spokeswoman Jayme Ackemann said.

Police and firefighters arrived there at 5:39 p.m., Ackemann said. The person was pronounced dead at the scene.

Trains holding in the area caused major delays for riders.

An earlier report of a train hitting a person proved to be unfounded. About 30 minutes earlier, a person walking on the tracks dropped a bag, which was struck by the train.

The person was uninjured, but trains stopped briefly to assess the situation and police took the trespasser into custody, Ackemann said.