Athens Police and Athens Fire & Rescue respond to the scene of a pedestrian struck by a train near the intersection of U.S. 72 and Jefferson Street.

A person struck and killed by a train in Athens Wednesday night has been identified as a Tennessee man.

Limestone County Coroner Mike West said the victim was 53-year-old Kevin L. England of Antioch. West listed his cause of death as blunt force trauma.

England a female friend were on the elevated track near the intersection of U.S. 72 and Jefferson Street when he was struck at about 7:23 p.m., according to Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson.

The female told investigators they saw the light and heard the train, but believed it to be much further away than it was.

“She said they were sitting on the track eating when they realized the train was closer than they thought,” Johnson said. “She said she was able to get out of the way but he was not able to before the train struck him.”

Johnson said Wednesday his department would continue to investigate the incident.