Full Notification

On Thursday, December 19^th, 2019 at approximately 7:49 PM, Novato Police Officers and Novato Fire Protection District were dispatched to the railroad crossing at Grant Avenue and Railroad Avenue, for a collision involving a SMART train and a 71 year old male. 

SMART employees contacted Novato Police Dispatch to report that the train had collided with an adult male who was standing on the railroad tracks. Upon arrival at the scene, Novato Fire Paramedics determined the male was deceased. The Novato Police Major Accident Investigations Team responded to the scene to assume the investigation. It appears that the SMART Train was traveling N/B just prior to the Grant Avenue crossing when the collision occurred. At the time of the collision, all of the train warning signals and equipment were functioning properly. The train conductor reported that he applied emergency breaking and sounded the train’s horn prior to the collision. SMART Train officials responded to the scene to assist with the passengers who had been on the train at the time of the collision and used the bus bridge to assist passengers. The East and Westbound lanes of Grant Avenue between Railroad Avenue and Reichert Avenue were closed for approximately two and a half hours while the investigation was being conducted. The roadway is now open.

The Marin County Coroner’s Office assumed the death investigation and will provide a release with the victim’s identity after the Next of Kin has been notified.

We would like to thank the Novato Fire Protection District and SMART for their assistance with this investigation. If you have any information regarding this collision, please contact Sergeant Nick Frey at 415-897-4361 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Please reference Novato Police Department Case #NP19-5891.