Fatal train vs pedestrian incident in Baker City

BAKER CITY – Baker Dispatch received a call from the Union Pacific Railroad (UPR) Sunday evening, reporting that a train had struck a trespasser (pedestrian). The call was about at around 5:30pm, GPS coordinates were given and police, as well as medics, started searching the area where it mapped out on the train track near the 800 block of Elm Street. According to information from the Baker City Police Department, at about 5:45pm Officer Parsons located the deceased individual, identified as Michael Myers-Gabiola. Police were able to locate the point of impact on the train tracks about 200 yards north of the 800 block of Elm Street. 

Reports note that Myers-Gabiola was identified during the investigation by a family friend that came out to the scene. Myers-Gabiola was alone at the time of the event, UPR employees on the train were the only witnesses. 

Additional report information says that as the train approached Myers-Gabiola and he was identified as a pedestrian on the train tracks, UPR initiated an emergency stop. Due to the train’s energy (combination of weight and speed) the train was not able to stop before striking Michael.

Foul play is not suspected, and the investigation is continuing.

The train was traveling at about 40mph at the time of impact (speed cap while traveling through Baker City is 50mph) according to reports. 

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Elkhorn Media Group