A train struck and killed a 28-year-old woman walking along the railroad tracks in Sandpoint early Thursday morning, according to an Idaho State Police news release.

Police identified the woman as Erin M. Likkel of Huntsville, Ala. A Burlington Northern Sante Fe train employee spotted her body and luggage around 2:50 a.m. in the track’s right of way about 200 feet west of the Amtrak depot.

Sandpoint Police do not believe Likkel’s death was a suicide. She had an Amtrak train ticket purchased for North Dakota. They believe she had been visiting family in Idaho for the holidays and was trying to catch her train when she was struck.

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said a Chicago-to-Seattle train hit Likkel. He described her as a trespasser since she was not in a pedestrian crossing.

Melonas said Amtrak contracts with the BNSF tracks and two passenger trains pass through the depot daily. One train departs the depot at 2:32 a.m., according to Amtrak’s website. Nicole Hensley, SR

Am I the only one who finds the BSNF spokesman's description of Likkel as a "trespasser" callous?

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