Kevin Murphy of Darien Identified as Victim in Train Fatality

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT -- Update 5:21 p.m., Tuesday:

The Edward Lawrence Funeral Home in Darien has posted an obituary notice for Kevin P. Murphy.

Update 11:46 p.m., Monday:

Late Monday afternoon, half a dozen cars were parked on the street and more in the driveway of the home of Kevin Murphy's family in Darien.

Update 4:39 p.m.:

Kevin Murphy's age is 55, not 57 (the age previously given out by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

Update 4:24 p.m.:

The Metropolitan Transportation authority has identified Kevin Murphy as the pedestrian fatally struck by a train this morning at the Noroton Heights railroad station, according to Aaron Donavan, an MTA spokesman.

Update 2:04 p.m.:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority just released this statement:

An Explanation for This Morning's (Monday, March 4) New Haven Line Delays

The delays you experienced this morning were due to an investigation into the death of a person struck by a train in the vicinity of Noroton Heights.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 AM, taking two tracks out of service and creating delays of up to 15 minutes on trains traveling in both directions.

In addition, trains traveling to New Haven had to bypass Noroton Heights, Darien and Rowayton stations.

These customers had to travel to Stamford, transferring there for trains to New Haven.

The medical examiner arrived on the scene at approximately 9:30 a.m., and we were able to restore normal service by approximately 10:30 a.m.

We regret any inconvenience you may have experienced as a result of this tragic and unfortunate incident.

Update 11:17 a.m.:

The pedestrian hit by a train on the tracks of the Noroton Heights station early this morning is a 57-year-old man, said Aaron Donovan, an MTA spokesman.

The man's name is being withheld pending notification of his family, which could occur at any time, Donovan said.

Update 10:53 a.m.:

New Haven Line service between Noroton Heights and Stamford stations is now back. Replacement bus service has now ended, the MTA announced.

Update 10:41 a.m.:

Commuter Jaclyn DiScala gave Darien Patch the following account (slightly edited from her email) of what she and other commuters were presented with at the Noroton Heights railroad station this morning:

"I was waiting on the platform in Darien around 7 a.m. when I heard an announcement that the train to New York was now leaving from the opposite platform, the one where New Haven trains depart from.

"I went to the opposite track and then heard an announcement that the eastbound trains to new haven would no longer be stopping at Darien. This left the kids who were coming to the Darien station for the 7:17 a.m. train stranded with no ride.

"I informed kids and parents as they were being dropped off that the train was not coming due to an accident. I spared them the sad details, which I heard from an online news blurb.

"When the train came (7:30 a.m. train to NY), it was pretty crowded. We were informed that anyone who wished to exit in Noroton Heights had to exit from the rear two cars, which gave people little time to get there.

"When we arrived in Noroton Heights, I saw people running from the normal platform to come to the opposite platform as they had to do in Darien. There were about five Metro-North employees there, one on the track and four on the platform.

"One police officer was on the phone, one was diverting train passengers, and two were walking on the tracks with a measuring device to measure the distance between evidence/remains.

"The train, which I'm assuming was responsible for the accident, was stopped further ahead. There were evidence markers all over the tracks, however there were some rather larger remains on the tracks uncovered and unmarked.

"[A] backpack [which DiScala believed was owned by the victim] was lying on the platform, also marked with an evidence marker number, and the body was below on the platform, covered in three seperate drapes. [...]

"My train arrived in Grand Central around 8:50 a.m., 20 minutes late. It was a very gruesome sight to see."

Update 10:23 a.m.:

To clarify the MTA 9:55 a.m. announcement: Bus service between Stamford and Noroton Heights stations is for eastbound service. Westbound train service has been continuing between the stations.

Update 10:13 a.m.:

The MTA announced in a statement timed at 9:55 a.m.:

"Eastbound train service will resume to Darien and Rowayton starting with the 9:07 AM train departing Grand Central Terminal.  Substitute bus service will be provided between Noroton Heights and Stamford.  Please listen for announcements at your station."

Update 10:08 a.m.:

As is typical in ongoing investigations, a police officer told Darien Patch at the scene, "It's still an active investigation, so there won't be any comments from the department at this time."

Any new developments will be published here, as we find out.

Update 9:57 a.m.:

The pedestrian struck and killed at the Noroton Heights railroad station was hit sometime after 6:30 a.m., said Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

MTA police are in charge of the ongoing investigation at the tracks of the station, where two lines were out of service and two more remained in service this morning.

Update 9:41 a.m.:

One person at the scene of the pedestrian death at the Noroton Heights railroad station sent Darien Patch a picture of investigators on the tracks. The woman told Patch the site was "a pretty gruesome scene."

Some commuters were presented with a gory, bloody sight, according to the woman.

Update 9:24 a.m.:

Here's the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's latest update, posted at 9:14 a.m.:

"New Haven Line Service continues to experience delays of up to 15 minutes due to police activity in the vicinity of Noroton Heights.  In addition, substitute bus service is being provided in lieu of eastbound train service for Noroton Heights, Darien and Rowayton.  Westbound train service continues to be provided at these stations.  Please listen for announcements at your station."

Update 9:10 a.m.:

Westbound service is delayed "up to 15 minutes" on New Haven Line trains stopping at the Noroton Heights, Darien and Rowayton stations as a result of the pedestrian death on the tracks, according to Metro-North.

Eastbound service is now being provided by substituting buses to bring commuters to trains in Norwalk, said Aaron Donovan, an MTA spokesman.

Original article, 7:56 a.m.:

A pedestrian was hit and killed by a train in Darien Monday morning, according to multiple news outlets, prompting Metro-North Railroad temporarily to shut down its Noroton Heights, Darien and Rowayton train stations.

According to NBC Connecticut, the 5:38 a.m. Grand Central-bound train out of New Haven—which typically would travel through Darien about 40 minutes after departure—was involved in the accident.

The person struck was a trespasser, NBC Connecticut reported.

In an email alert Monday morning, Metro-North had said that passenger service on the New Haven line was disrupted because of police activity in the Noroton Heights area.

A 7:53 a.m. alert from Metro-North said: "At this time, eastbound trains will not be stopping at Noroton Heights, Darien and Rowayton. All eastbound trains will carry customers to South Norwalk where they will need to transfer to a westbound train back to local stations. Customers at Noroton Heights, Darien and Rowayton must board a Westbound train to Stamford and transfer to an eastbound train for service east."

Darien Patch will have more information as it becomes available.