Man Hit by Train, Police Suspect Suicide

Maryland State Police said they believe that a white male hit by a train off Rt. 27 near the Rt. 140 overpass in Westminster Thursday night committed suicide.

Around 9 p.m. Thursday night, police say a train conductor and his assistant saw a man lying on the tracks. The two men say that as the train approached, the man appeared to sit up and then laid down again. He was covered by a large brown paper bag. The conductor was unable to stop the train before hitting the man.

Lieutenant Jim DeWees of the Maryland State Police said the victim, James Anthony Harless, 59, was dead at the scene. Investigators said they do not believe there was any foul play.

"There doesn't appear to be anything suspicious about this," said DeWees. "We are looking at suicide."

DeWees said that there is a small population of homeless people that often hang out near the train tracks in that area. He said that Harless is presumed to be homeless. His last known address was in Thomasville, PA.

The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.