Full Notification

PETALUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate Release
Friday, October, 17, 2025


Incident: Pedestrian fatally struck by train
Report Number: PPD 25-3617
Occurred Date : October 17, 2025
Occurred Time: 0954 AM
Location: SMART Train railroad trestle bridge Petaluma, CA

Incident Summary

On October 17, 2025, the Petaluma Police Department received an emergency call from the SMART Train Dispatch Center regarding a train that had struck a pedestrian. The area of the incident was described as being near the railroad trestle bridge which traverses over a tributary of the Petaluma River. This section of the train tracks is surrounded by open fields and no active vehicle roadways intersect with the railroad tracks.

Petaluma Police Department Officers and Petaluma Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and located the pedestrian on the north side of the train tracks. The train which had struck the pedestrian was located approximately 200 yards west of the railroad trestle bridge.

Petaluma Fire Department personnel attempted lifesaving efforts on the pedestrian but were unsuccessful and he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The pedestrian was identified; however, his identity isn’t being released at this time.

The SMART Train Conductor remained on scene and fully cooperated with the investigation. There were passengers on the train at the time of the incident and there were no other injuries reported.

Members of the Petaluma Police Department Traffic Team and Crime Scene Investigations were called to the scene to initiate their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident which will include why the pedestrian was on the railroad tracks. 

The Petaluma Police Department would like to remind the community that railroad tracks are not for pedestrian travel and safety barriers, such as fences, are put in place to prohibit those who want to cross the tracks from doing so. At no time should they be climbed on or over to gain access to the railroad tracks.

The Petaluma Police Department would like to thank our partners at the Petaluma Fire Department for their swift response and efforts to provide care to the pedestrian. We would also like to thank our partners at SMART for their assistance and cooperation during this tragic incident.

This incident remains under investigation by the Petaluma Police Department Traffic Unit. If anyone has additional information or witnessed the incident, please contact Motor Officer Nate Good at (707) 781-1262 or by email at [email protected].

Media inquiries may be directed to Traffic Sergeant Mario Giomi at (707) 776-3722 or by email at [email protected]