KEARNEY, Neb. — Kearney Police say a woman whose body was found near train tracks Thursday morning died after being hit by a train.

A police news release says the train hit the woman about 300 feet west of the Central Avenue crossing in downtown Kearney sometime early Thursday morning or late Wednesday night. Union Pacific reported finding her body lying beside the middle set of train tracks shortly after 9:00 a.m.

Police say it’s still unclear what led to the collision. Investigators have identified the woman but are withholding her name until they can notify her family.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Kearney Police Department.

 

--- Initial story 11:00 a.m. 10/26 ---

KEARNEY, Neb. — Police are investigating after a body was found near train tracks in downtown Kearney.

Police on scene say a report of a woman’s body by the tracks near Railroad St. and 1st Ave. came in around 9:15 Thursday morning. Investigators have not been able to identify the woman. They can’t yet say when she died or how she died. The body is on the north side of the tracks about even with 1st Ave., which is one block west of a major crossing. The tracks are protected by a fence except for at the crossing.

Police are using a drone to map the scene and had the railroad crossing at Central Ave. shut down. Investigators hope to use possible video evidence from Union Pacific trains during the investigation.

Police are asking people to stay clear of the scene to avoid interfering with the investigation.