A contractor “was performing normally scheduled work for MARTA” when a train hit and killed him, his employer said Monday.
“Electrician Rob Smith was a long-time employee with an exemplary record of service to our company and to our clients,” Cleveland Electric said in a statement. “We are heartbroken by this accident and our focus at this time is with his wife, children and other immediate family members.”
Smith, 38, of Griffin, was in his work vehicle when a northbound MARTA train hit him near the Medical Center station Sunday night, officials said.
Rail service between the Buckhead and North Springs stations was suspended for hours after the incident, which MARTA first reported on Twitter about 9 p.m.
A bus bridge was established to transport passengers between the stations. The bus bridge remained in effect until rail service resumed around 6 a.m. Monday.
“Safety is our top priority and we will thoroughly investigate the incident,” MARTA spokeswoman Stephany Fisher told Channel 2. “There are no reported injuries among the passengers and the rail operator was able to safely offload riders.”
Fisher said the agency has safety protocols to protect people working near railroad tracks, but declined to elaborate.
It’s not the first time a MARTA train has struck and killed a worker. In 2000, three employees died in two separate incidents.
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