SCARBOROUGH — Scarborough police have released the name of the man who was seriously injured Sunday morning when he was struck by the Amtrak Downeaster train.

Charles Hope, 36, was struck by the train at Highland Avenue and Black Point Road. Scarborough police describe Hope as a transient from California who most recently was staying in Massachusetts.

Hope remains hospitalized at Maine Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Witnesses told police Hope was running across the tracks toward a freight train parked on the second track. He appeared to not see the Amtrak train and was struck by the front engine, police said.

The accident happened a couple hundred yards north of a railroad track overpass on busy Black Point Road at about 8:15 a.m. Sunday as the train was heading south toward the Old Orchard Beach station.

Scarborough police continue to investigate, but say it appears the incident was accidental due to Hope being distracted.


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