Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 31, 2005

Man struck by train dies

A man struck by a six-car Orange Line train on yesterday morning died today, Monday, October 31.

On Sunday, October 30, Leon Stalin Valdivieso, 25 of Germantown, MD, was struck by the train at 5:41 a.m. as it pulled into the Foggy Bottom Metrorail station headed in the direction of New Carrollton.

According to the police department’s preliminary investigation, Mr. Valdivieso stepped onto the tracks prior to the train entering the station. The train operator hit the emergency brake, but the train was not able to stop before striking the man. He was taken to George Washington University Hosptial, where he later died.

The Metrorail system, which usually opens at 7 a.m. on Sundays, had opened at 5 a.m. to accommodate participants in the Marine Corps Marathon. Officials continued to operate train service by having trains share the other track in the station, known as "single-tracking." The single-tracking continued until 7:38 a.m., at which time regular service resumed. Metrobuses also were used to move passengers around the incident.

News release issued on October 31, 2005.