Fifth Person Hit, Killed By SMART Train In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A pedestrian whom authorities say took his own life by running in front of a SMART train Monday afternoon has been identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Thomas Nichols, 61, of Santa Rosa. Nichols' death is the fifth — and second confirmed suicide — since June 27 involving a SMART train in Sonoma County.

Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said Nichols was struck and killed at 4:10 p.m. Monday in Rohnert Park, north of the Golf Course Drive rail crossing and across from the Outback Steakhouse.

Rohnert Park Department of Public of Safety officials sent a Nixle alert at 4:17 p.m. asking the public to avoid the area of Golf Course Drive at the tracks.

"Trains running between San Rafael and Cotati stations," SMART officials said on Twitter. "A bus bridge will shuttle passengers between Cotati and Sonoma County Airport stations, stopping at all stations in between. An additional Southbound train will depart Cotati at 8:15 p.m."

Since June 27, four of the fatalities involving SMART trains were in or near Rohnert Park. The other happened last week in Santa Rosa and was determined to be a suicide, authorities said.

"The man who died Friday after running in front of a SMART train was identified by the Coroner's Office as Martin Krshul, 66 of Santa Rosa," the sheriff's office said Monday morning.

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• Pedestrian Struck, Killed By SMART Train In Rohnert Park

—Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Editor's Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, 24 hours a day/7 days a week.