The Merced County Coroner’s Office has identified the woman who died in the train-versus-pedestrian accident. They released her name on Tuesday, February 18th, as Jovita Valasco, 30, of Merced County, California.

An autopsy result showed that the deceased died from the injuries she sustained from the hit by the train. The coroner ruled the cause of death as an accident resulting from blunt force trauma.

Valasco was hit by a train in Planada on the night of Friday, February 14th at about 8 p.m. The accident happened precisely in the area of Plainsburg Road and Santa Fe.

The train conductor made a call to 911 from the BNSF Railway train about the accident. First responders arrived to find Valasco already dead and moved her away from the track.

Authorities are investigating to find out what the deceased was doing on the track. They have asked anyone with information to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

California has a lot of train-versus-pedestrian accidents that often end in fatalities. Many of the accidents are as a result of people trespassing onto train tracks without regard for the warning signs.

At other times, the accidents have nothing to with pedestrians trespassing, but with warning lights not functioning properly at intersections. Intrusion on to railroads is an offense, and trespassers are liable to pay a fine.

However, when the fault does not lie with the victim of an accident, the person can bring a personal injury or wrongful death suit under California law. In that case, the train company or the city — depending on whose part the liability lies — would pay compensation to the victim.

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