On Tuesday, July 14th, the Marin County Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Fielding said they identified the man killed by a SMART train in Marin County, California. Martin Hoffman, 36, of San Rafael was riding his bicycle when the locomotive struck him.

Fielding said that the victim was not carrying identification at the time of the crash, and his family lives out of state. He added that it led to a delay in releasing the man’s identity as they were unable to notify his next-of-kin.

The accident report showed that the incident happened on Friday, July 3rd. Witnesses told the county police that at about 7 p.m., Hoffman rode his bicycle across the train tracks through a closed rail crossing at the North San Pedro Civic Center Station in San Rafael. He was still on the road when the approaching train struck him.

The deputy coroner said that the flashing lights and alarm of the track were activated, but the victim continued through it. He struck a barrier and fell on the road. Hoffman suffered severe injuries and passed away while receiving treatment in a hospital.

Train-related crashes are not very common, but they are usually fatal when they occur due to the train’s speed and the impact of the collision. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians must pay attention to the stop signs and alarms at railway crossings. Use the latter only when permissible and cross using the designated crossing areas.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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