A 48-year-old man died Wednesday after he was run over by a train near Van Buren Street and 19^th Avenue, police said.

Officers were called to the scene just after 4 a.m. June 5 and found David Parrish, 48, suffering from critical injuries. Phoenix Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

Detectives said Parrish was seen on the tracks when a train moving south approached. The train signaled by blowing its horn, and Parrish moved off of the tracks, according to a release.

“After the train stopped just south of Parrish, crew members readjusted switches and began to operate the train,” the release stated.

“It was at this time that Parrish was witnessed going back onto the train tracks to lay down and was fatally struck.”

The train operator stopped the train, and emergency personnel were contacted.

The incident remains under investigation by police along with a separate investigation by BNSF Railroads.   

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