17-year-old hit and killed by TRAX train

WEST JORDAN — A TRAX train hit and killed a 17-year-old male pedestrian Monday evening.

West Jordan police said they are investigating the incident, which occurred before 7 p.m. at approximately 8600 South and 3200 West, as a suicide. Witnesses at the scene say they saw the teen step in front of the train.

This is the second fatality at the intersection in a year. In June, a 15-year-old girl, Shariah Casper, was killed when she apparently did not realize that two trains were traveling in opposite directions. Concerns were also raised by residents that the design of the crossing created blind sport for pedestrians.

UTA has since removed sound barriers and installed other safety equipment along its Red Line to improve vision and safety alerts at some crossings, including 3200 West.

— Hunter Schwarz, Jennifer Stagg