Amtrak 11, bound for Eugene and points south, was held up several hours after a man walked in front of it in Albany Wednesday.
Albany police have issued a statement and identified the man killed Wednesday afternoon when he walked in front of an Amtrak train at the Queen Avenue crossing.
Here’s the full statement issued this morning:
“On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at approximately 4:16 p.m., the Albany Police Department received multiple emergency calls reporting that a male pedestrian had been struck by a train near the Queen Avenue railroad crossing.
“Albany Police officers, along with personnel from the Albany Fire Department and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene and discovered that an adult male had been struck by a southbound Amtrak passenger train. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“According to witness statements, the man and his dog had gone under the lowered crossing arms and around a freight train that was stopped on the adjacent track. A southbound Amtrak train traveling on a separate track then struck the pedestrian as he attempted to cross. The dog did not appear to be injured and was released to a friend at the scene.
“The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Joseph VanZandt of Albany. Next of kin have been notified, and Mr. VanZandt was transported to a local funeral home.
“The Albany Police Department reminds all community members to obey railroad crossing signals and to never attempt to cross around lowered gates or stopped trains. Train movement can occur on adjacent tracks without warning, and safety devices are in place to prevent tragedies like this.
“The department extends its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. VanZandt.”
This is the first incident of its kind at the Queen Avenue crossing in 10 years.
In 2014 and 2015, two men were killed at the crossing when they went around the lowered crossing arms, ignored the flashing lights and bells, and got hit by moving trains.
There are four tracks at the crossing. Sometimes, a train being switched in the Albany yard has just cleared the crossing but the gates stay down because a train — either Amtrak or freight — is approaching on the Union Pacific mainline. (hh)
Wow, I don’t know what to say though I’m sure others will have their own commentary on this. I guess I don’t understand how someone could ignore the lowered arms? Sincere sympathies to his family and friends.
Sad but not much you can do when people just ignore all the safety precautions put in place. Plus there’s no mistaking the high shrill of an Amtrak whistle.
The switching train horn is so loud you can’t hear the amtrak whistle.
Haso,please come take a few minutes and chat with me.
Once again, emphasizing the importance of the age old warning, “Stop – Look – Listen”, that we old folks had drilled into us as children. I can’t help wondering if this soul had earbuds in his ears at the time. Prayers for survivors.
It is a terrible tragedy. My condolences to the family and friends.
We pay for public safety on our water bills & with taxes to city, county, and state police – with an upcoming election asking for MORE money – and we can’t even stop trains from hitting multiple people at the same intersection in the same manner? What is our money paying for exactly? Obviously there needs to be a safer way for peds/bikes to cross.
So sad for this young man and his family. Also sad for the train engineer who will be affected by this for the rest of his life.
It takes a train at least one mile to stop. By the time the engineer sees you, it’s already too late.