Man dies trying to jump onto train

RITZVILLE — An unidentified man was killed when he attempted to escape law enforcement officers by jumping on a moving train Tuesday night. The incident occurred near Ritzville. The man was the subject of a high-speed chase, according to information from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. “The vehicle had been eluding Franklin County (sheriff’s deputies), Washington State Patrol and Connell police,” the press release said. “The male driver continued to elude into Adams County.” Adams County deputies deployed spike strips, but the driver didn’t stop. He kept driving west on I-90 until he came to milepost 283, near Ritzville. At that point, “the subject’s vehicle lost its tires and came to a stop.” Law enforcement officers ordered the man out of the car, but he ran away, the press release said. He ran “up an embankment onto the overpass in the area.” The overpass crossed above railroad tracks, occupied at the time by a train. “The subject reportedly jumped from the overpass onto a moving train and did not survive,” the press release said. The man’s name is being withheld pending notification of family, the sheriff’s office said.

— Staff report