Joseph Joshua Abarca Obituary – The pedestrian who was fatally struck by a train last week has been identified as Joseph Joshua Abarca, a 36-year-old resident of Merced, according to Deputy Michael Domingue of the Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office. On Wednesday, February 21, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Merced police officers were called to the scene at R Street and 16th Street after receiving a report of a pedestrian being hit by a train.
Upon arrival, officers found the train blocking the road and discovered the deceased man just west of the intersection. Sergeant Nathan McKinnon stated that the train was traveling westward at the time of the incident. The circumstances surrounding the man’s presence on the tracks remain unknown, although train staff reported that it appeared he may have been attempting to cross the tracks ahead of the train.
The train operator cooperated with authorities, and the railroad crossing was closed for over two hours to allow for a replacement crew to take over the train’s operation. Sergeant McKinnon mentioned that the Merced Police Department is conducting an investigation into the fatal collision and will share their findings with the Union Pacific Railroad Police.