Here’s the latest update from DPD…

On 3/7/2015 at approximately 10:30 am, Decatur Police responded to a pedestrian on a skateboard hit by a train at East Trinity Place and East College Avenue. The pedestrian was deceased at the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed the railroad crossing arms were down at the time the pedestrian entered the intersection. The pedestrian has been identified as a 29-year-old male from Atlanta. His name is not being released at this time as efforts are being made to locate and notify his family.

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This happened in the past hour. From Decatur Police Sgt Jennifer Ross…

An unidentified male on a skateboard crossing the railroad tracks at East Trinity Place and East College Avenue was struck by a train and is deceased. Witnesses reported the railroad crossing arms were down at the time. The accident is currently under investigation.

The intersection is closed until further notice.

Emergency vehicles left the city’s annual Touch-a-Truck event earlier today to respond to the situation.

In the midst of a dog walk last night, we saw the aftermath of this accident at the eastern intersection of Ponce and Commerce.

A crushed car on the sidewalk.  Decatur and DeKalb police and fire on the scene.  Police tape across the intersection and smoke rising from the center of the action.  I’m now kicking myself for not taking a blurry pic with my cameraphone.

Though I couldn’t get much info from anyone at the scene, the rumor mill is full of info this morning.  Robbie tweets in response to Andisheh that the crash is the result of a police chase and that one suspect fled on foot.

Lynne writes in with a report from an eyewitness that reasserts that the driver fled.

A work colleague saw a terrible car wreck early evening on Thursday at the corner of Commerce and E. Ponce (near Decatur First Methodist Church). A black SUV sped through a red light heading west on Ponce, and crashed into the line of waiting cars going east. One woman had to be cut out of her car. The driver of the vehicle that ran the light got out of his car and ran away on foot. Anyone know anything more?

I’m trying to get confirmation from Decatur PD on all of this.  Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Police Chief Booker provided details in the comments section.