Body found near railroad tracks in Oak Harbor

3/18/2013

OAK HARBOR -- An unidentified man's body was found along railroad tracks in Salem Township just west of here today after he apparently had been hit by a train.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said the body of a Hispanic male, who appeared to be in his 40s, was reported by the crew of a passing train about 11 a.m. between the two tracks of Norfolk Southern's Toledo-Cleveland main line. The scene was between the North Benton Street and Toussaint-Portage Road Street crossings and near Christiansen Road, Sheriff Stephen Levorchick said.

The body, dressed in blue and purple shirts, a blue coat, brown work pants, and black Polo tennis shoes, was taken to the Lucas County Coroner's Office for an autopsy. Train traffic was suspended on the busy line for several hours while sheriff's deputies and the Ottawa County Coroner's Office examined the scene.

Oak Harbor police and the Portage Fire Department assisted at the scene, and the matter remains under investigation by the county sheriff and Norfolk Southern police.