Police and investigators at the scene of a fatal train versus pedestrian accident near North 7th Ave in Manville. 9/10/15 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Authorities ID 22-year-old man killed by train in Manville
By Dave Hutchinson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 11, 2015
SOMERSET, NJ
Authorities have identified the trespassing man struck and killed by a train late Wednesday night as Devin J. Burke, 22, of Manville.
An investigation has been launched to determine if Burke's death was an accident or a suicide, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and Manville police Chief Mark Peltack said in a joint release Friday.
At 6:15 a.m. Thursday, a train conductor operating a westbound train reported to authorities that he observed what appeared to be a deceased human body on the train tracks, authorities said.
Minutes later, responding officers located the body of a male, later identified as Burke, located on the train tracks in the vicinity of 600 Washington Avenue, authorities said. His injuries were consistent with those resulting from being struck by a train, authorities said.
Somerset County Prosecutor Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano said authorities will be reviewing video footage to determine the circumstances surrounding Burke's death. The preliminary investigation has shown no foul play, authorities said. This is obviously a suicide by train case, as the area is wide open with no obstructions.
Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, the Manville police at 908-725-1900, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-8477.
Tips can also be submitted online. All anonymous Crime Stoppers' tips will be kept confidential.