Pedestrian hit by TRAX train in South Salt Lake

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A 40-year-old man was in critical condition after being hit by a light-rail train about 4:45 p.m. Thursday, officials said.

State transportation officials said the man was hit by a southbound train near the Central Pointe TRAX station at 2100 S. 221 West. The man sustained injuries to his head, legs and torso, officials said.

"We're still trying to piece together what happened," said Gerry Carpenter, Utah Transit Authority spokesman. "We believe the man may have gotten off the train and then was somehow too close to the train. We don't know why. He was struck by the train and critically injured."

The accident led to significant delays in TRAX service during the evening commute. Trains were running in both directions at the station by 6 p.m.

The train that hit the man was one of UTA's newer models and included surveillance equipment that Carpenter said will be used to help determine what happened.

"We'll do a full safety review of this incident to try and understand what could have been done, if anything, to prevent it," he said.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

— Jared Page