A 44-year-old woman survived an apparent suicide attempt Thursday morning but was in critical condition after being struck by a FrontRunner commuter train in Sunset.
Sunset Police Chief Ken Eborn said the 44-year-old woman was seen lying down on the southbound tracks near 6000 South and 2400 West about 9:30 a.m.
"Witnesses told us that after she lay down on the tracks that at the last second she attempted to move. We don't know if she changed her mind, but she was then clipped by the train," Eborn said.
He said the woman, who was conscious and alert when emergency workers came to her aid, acknowledged she was attempting suicide. The woman was taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she was reported to be in critical condition.
"She clearly indicated to them that her intent was to kill herself," Eborn said. "We're looking into indications she also may have sent messages to family as well indicating that very thing."
Utah Transit Authority spokesman Gerry Carpenter said no one on the train was hurt. Even with the emergency brakes applied, he said, it took the train three-quarters of a mile to stop after hitting the woman, so there was no sudden deceleration.
FrontRunner riders were taken by bus around the scene, between the Ogden and Clearfield stops, through the morning. Normal routing was restored by afternnoon.
