MELBOURNE, Fla. – A 38-year-old Melbourne man was killed by a train early Tuesday in what police say was an apparent "intentional act."
The fatal crash was reported shortly before 5:30 a.m. just north of Post Road near U.S. 1.
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The man was identified as William Littlefield, a resident of a nearby mobile home park who was being sought at the time by Brevard County sheriff’s deputies for a welfare check, police said.
The train’s conductor was not injured in the incident. It was also not immediately known how fast the train was going.
“It looks like it was probably intentional,” said Cmdr. Sean Riordan of the Melbourne Police Department.
Riordan said family members were notified.
“Something like this is very traumatic, not just for the families of the victim, but for the (railroad conductor) also. A lot of people forget about the conductor,” he said. “If you think about it, there is nothing they can do."
Tuesday morning's incident was the third fatal train accident involving a pedestrian to be reported this year and the second to take place in Melbourne.
“I couldn’t tell you why,” said Riordan of the incidents. “It may be that we have the most exposure, the most densely populated area of the county or the longest segment of tracks. I don’t know."
Post Road reopened about 8:30 a.m.
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