NORTH BERWICK — A person who was on the railroad tracks in North Berwick Saturday was struck and killed by an Amtrak train traveling from Boston to Portland.

Spokesperson Patricia Quinn of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority says the Amtrak Downeaster, carrying about 100 passengers, struck the person around 7 p.m. Saturday near the Route 9 overpass.

An Amtrak spokeswoman said that the collision occurred on a section of track where there is no crossing, and the maximum speed for the train would be 60 mph.

Authorities had not released any information about the victim as of press time.

The accident is yet another example of the dangers involved in traveling along railroad tracks, according to Fred Hirsch, state coordinator of Maine Operation Lifesaver, an educational organization dedicated to preventing such incidents.

In addition to being dangerous, he said, walking or riding on tracks or traveling on the rail right of way “is trespassing on private railroad property, and it’s illegal.”

Not only is the injured party the victim of the accident, said Hirsch, so are crew members on the train.

“They see the fatality occurring right before their eyes and can do nothing about it, since a train can’t stop quickly, even when emergency brakes are applied,” said Hirsch.

Often, he noted, the engineer and conductor cannot return to work for weeks, and in some cases, never return to that line of work.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story. Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].