Second pedestrian in week killed by train

A 44-year-old man died after being hit by a train in the central North Island town of Taihape this morning.

He was John Douglas Potaka, of Taihape.

Mr Potaka was the second pedestrian to die in front of a train in less than a week.

On Saturday morning a man was killed after walking into the path of a train at Raumati South, north of Wellington.

The accident today happened at Taihape railway station about 2.20am as a southbound Tranzrail freight train passed through at low speed, said Acting Inspector Bruce Mackay of police central communications.

A Taihape police spokesman said the driver of the train had seen Mr Potaka on the edge of the platform.

"The deceased has stepped or fallen into the path of the train."

Emergency services were called by the train driver who stopped when he heard the impact.

Police said Mr Potaka had been drinking at a local bar shortly before the incident.

Inquiries were continuing, although there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances

- NZPA