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Update 2: The County Police have finally published the press release on their website, and also have published an update identifying the victim:

2/8/2008

Update: Gaithersburg Man Struck by Train Identified

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division – Homicide/Sex Section continue to investigate the death of a man that occurred on February 7, when he was struck by a train in Gaithersburg. The victim has been identified as Jorge Alberto Hernandez, 21 years-old, of an unknown address in Gaithersburg.

At approximately 6:05 p.m. on February 7, Montgomery County Police Fire/Rescue personnel, Gaithersburg Police, and officers from the 6th District responded to the train tracks in an area behind the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, north of the Chestnut Street crossing and south of the Route 270 overpass for the report of a pedestrian struck by a train.

The preliminary investigation revealed Hernandez was walking northbound on one set of two tracks. A MARC passenger train, # 7746, was also traveling northbound from Washington, D.C. to Brunswick, Maryland. As the train proceeded through the area of the Chestnut Street crossing, the engineer observed Hernandez approximately 500 feet ahead walking with his back to the train. The engineer activated the train’s horn several times and applied the brakes. Hernandez did not react to the warning. The engineer was unable to bring the train to a stop before striking Hernandez. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

An autopsy has been scheduled at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

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Contact: Media Services Division Phone: 240.773.5030

According to Channel 7:

A man is dead after police said he was hit by a MARC train in Gaithersburg.

It happened around 6 p.m. Thursday near the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Chestnut Street. Fire officials said the victim was a man in his twenties. CSX and MARC train traffic was shut down in the area. Around 300 people on the train were delayed for more than two hours.

Update: A Gaithersblog reader sent me a copy of a press release on this incident from the County Police. Unfortunately, as is typical for the Police, they have not posted this online; if they do post it later I will provide a link.

For Immediate Release

February 7, 2008

Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Man Struck by Train in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division - Homicide/Sex detectives are investigating the death of a man that occurred this evening when he was struck by a train in Gaithersburg.

At approximately 6:05 p.m. today Montgomery County Police Fire/Rescue personnel, Gaithersburg police, and officers from the 6th District responded to the train tracks in the area north of the Chestnut Street crossing and south of the Route 270 overpass for the report of a pedestrian struck by a train.

The preliminary investigation revealed a pedestrian was walking northbound on one set of two tracks. A northbound MARC cab car train, #7746, was also northbound from Washington, D.C. to Brunswick, Maryland. As the train was in the area of the Chestnut Street crossing, the engineer observed a subject approximately 500 feet ahead walking with his back to the train. The conductor activated the train’s horn several times and applied the brakes. The pedestrian did not react to the warning. The engineer was unable to bring the train to a stop before striking the pedestrian. The victim, age 21 with an unknown address, was pronounced dead on the scene.

His body will be sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore for an autopsy. The victim’s name will be released after family members have been notified. The investigation is continuing.

From the City’s website:

Thursday, February 07, 2008
Burglary
2-8-2008 at 12:45 p.m. police responded to 17B Firstfield Road for a burglary that occurred earlier. Property was removed by unknown suspects.

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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Aggravated Assault
On 02/6/08, at 12:45 p.m., there was an aggravated assault in the 600 block of South Frederick Avenue. The victim was assaulted when the suspect pointed a handgun at her. The suspect is known and charges have been obtained.

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Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Burglary Arrest
On 02/04/08, at 9:34 p.m., police responded to the 500 block of South Frederick Avenue for the report of an in-progress burglary. The victim had discovered the suspect inside of her residence. The suspect fled on foot, but was apprehended by police moments later in the 400 block of Gaither Street.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Man pleads guilty in J.C. Penney murder:
  

  A Germantown man with a history of mental health issues will likely serve 33 years in state prison for the 2006 stabbing death of his 35-year-old female coworker at the J.C. Penney in Lakeforest mall.

  Josue Ray Dupree, 21, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court Jan. 17 to second-degree murder, which carries a 30-year sentence, and carrying a concealed weapon, which carries a three-year sentence.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Mansion costs city millions, earns far less:
  

  The stately Kentlands Mansion, a popular choice for weddings, business meetings, birthdays and bar mitzvahs, is costing Gaithersburg taxpayers millions while generating revenue of less than $200,000 a year.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Draft vision for Kentlands CBD is on the books:
  

  Residents envision the Kentlands Commercial Business District as the ‘‘Kentlands Downtown,” where jobs, retail, residences and recreation can converge.

• Melissa A. Chadwick writes, Police identify woman found wandering the streets of Gaithersburg:
  

  An unidentified woman who was taken into protective custody after being found wandering the streets of Gaithersburg in November was identified this week.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Tech corridor vision heads to County Council:
  

  Communities along Interstate 270 and Route 355 from Bethesda to Clarksburg should be fluidly connected via mixed-use housing, retail and entertainment centers along a signature grand boulevard, according to a planning study.

• Margie Hyslop writes, In wake of deaths, Knapp moves to reconfigure council panels:
  

  Montgomery County Council President Michael J. Knapp is moving swiftly to reconfigure council committees to fill the vacancy left by Councilwoman Marilyn J. Praisner’s death Friday.

• C. Benjamin Ford writes, Judge gives 17-year-olds right to vote in nonpartisan elections:
  

  The Maryland Attorney General’s Office appealed Monday a ruling issued Friday by an Anne Arundel County judge that 17-year-olds have the right to vote in nonpartisan elections as long as they are 18 by the date of the general election.

• Marcus Moore writes, Board OK’s $2.11B education budget:
  

  The school board unanimously approved a revised $2.11 billion fiscal 2009 operating budget on Tuesday, which takes some money away from the hiring of lunchroom aides and puts it toward rolling out its middle school reform plan to one more school.

• Bradford Pearson writes, Potentially dangerous products pulled from 12 stores:
  

  Last September, Gennadiy Novitskiy of Rockville purchased an extension cord. After he plugged it in, the cord melted, causing the carpet and a nearby sofa to burst into flames.