An Amtrak hit and killed a woman on Tuesday in Clayton.
It happened near Front Street and O’Neil Street, according to a town of Clayton spokesperson.
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The Town of Clayton confirmed that 21-year-old Ellaryan Miller of Wendell was the person killed in this accident.
At the time of the accident, officials said she was not crossing at one of the marked crossing but crossed in a grassy area between two streets and walked into the path of a moving train.
Officials confirmed Miller was leaving her job on Main Street around 5 p.m. and was walking to her car parked in a lot on Front Street. She crossed the railroad tracks on foot and stepped in front of the train.
Clayton officials said Miller was a student at UNC Wilmington and was doing a summer internship in Clayton.
Officials on the scene said the accident was caught on video surveillance and appeared to be an accident.
Amtrak’s train tracking website shows the train was heading to Charlotte from New York.
Amtrak said in a statement that someone was trespassing on the track before the train hit the person.
"There have been no reported injuries to the 200 passengers or crew onboard," Amtrack wrote in a statement. "Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident."
Officials said the train was stopped for almost two hours before continuing just before 7:15 p.m.
Clayton Police Chief Greg Tart said there is no indication that this crash was intentional and they believe it was just a "very tragic accident."
"Preventing incidents and fatalities on the railroad is a priority for Amtrak," Amtrack's statement reads. "According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America, and railroad-highway grade crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America.
"These incidents can affect everyone involved—those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers. They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and grade crossings."
Amtrak said it works with Operation Lifesaver for safety on train tracks.
This is the second time in about a month that a pedestrian was struck and killed by a passing Amtrak train near downtown Clayton. In June, an Amtrak train hit and killed a person on Front Street at Central Street in Clayton.