BIDDEFORD, Maine — Two people died after being struck by an Amtrak train Sunday in Biddeford, a Biddeford Police Department dispatcher confirmed to NEWS CENTER Maine.
In an update from Biddeford police on Monday, Chief Roger Beaupre said, “The preliminary investigation indicates that two persons were lying on the tracks as the train approached. Based on the available video feed, the persons sat up, hugged one another, and were struck by the train.”
The train hit the individuals at about 11 a.m., approximately 1,000 feet from Main Street in Biddeford. Police said 81 people were on board the train at the time of the incident.
A NEWS CENTER Maine reporter on the scene said passengers on the train were transferred onto a bus after the train was stalled for roughly 1.5 hours.
Amtrak officials on Sunday released the following statement to NEWS CENTER Maine:
"Amtrak train 691 was traveling from Boston to Brunswick at approximately 11 am when individuals who were trespassing on the track came into contact with the train east of Saco. There were no reported injuries to the passengers or crew onboard. Amtrak is working with the Biddeford Police Department to investigate the incident."
The incident delayed several Amtrak trains, according to Amtrak Northeast's Twitter account.
Biddeford Police have not identified either of the individuals who died.
