Person struck by train identified

BARNESVILLE – A Barnesville woman has been identified as the person struck and killed by a Reading and Northern locomotive Thursday morning in Ryan Township.

The County Coroner’s officer identified the victim as 39-year-old Melissa Merenda of Barnesville.

First responders were called to the area of 700 Tuscarora Mountain Road around 7:00am Thursday morning for reports of a pedestrian struck.

Arriving crews from Ryan Township Fire and EMS found that the woman had been struck and killed by the Reading and Northern freight train.

State Police at the scene had little to share, only that they were assisting the Reading and Northern Police in the investigation.

Also responding to the scene was Lehigh Valley Health Network EMS and Rush Township Police. Delano Township firefighters were cancelled en route.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story mistakenly identified the victim as a male, based on reports from the scene and fire communications. This information was later corrected.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home.

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