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Discovery of body in southeast Los Angeles County prompts investigation, tangles train schedules

by in News

A body was found Sunday, prompting an investigation near train tracks in southeastern Los Angeles County near Pico Rivera that forced cancellation or delays for Metrolink trains and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner.

Authorities about 9 a.m. were sent to investigate reports of an unconscious person in the Rio Hondo River Basin between Slauson Avenue and Washington Boulevard, and found a man dead at the scene, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tracy Koerner said. Homicide detectives were dispatched to investigate, but no obvious signs of trauma to the man’s body were seen.

“At this point, we don’t know if he had a heart attack, fell off of the train, or if there was some other cause of death,” Koerner said Sunday evening.

The man’s identity was not immediately released.

The activity caused the cancellation of Metrolink’s Orange County Line 661 from Oceanside to Los Angeles Union Station, and delayed Line 662, which goes the opposite course, as well as Line 356 from San Bernardino to Los Angeles.  Line 751 from downtown Riverside to Union Station also was canceled.

Metrolink offered buses, seats on an Amtrak train going the same direction as some Orange County stops, and reimbursements of up to $50 for riders who had to use taxis or ride-hailing services. Metrolink began tweeting about delays due to the investigation just before 10 a.m.

The Surfliner tweets said the investigation caused delays from Los Angeles through Orange County and into San Diego on Sunday afternoon.

The investigation did not appear to involve any of the trains, just the tracks they use.