UPDATE: The person struck and killed on the Amtrak railroad tracks on Wednesday, Oct. 14 has been identified as Branford Fire Department Deputy Chief Ronald R. Mullen, a 34-year member of the Branford Professional Firefighters Local 2533.

EARLIER REPORT on story appears here: Zip06 is awaiting an Amtrak Police update on the identity of the victim in last night's Branford accident, involving a person struck and killed on the Amtrak railroad tracks in the vicinity of Pleasant Point Road.

Local news reports, including details that officials described the victim as a "trespasser" and that possible occupants were aboard the Shoreline East train which struck the victim, began surfacing last night, with the incident time being given as approximately 7:30 p.m.  About that time last night, Branford Fire Dept. sent out the following Twitter alert from @branfordfire: "1500023251 ACCIDENT MV W/INJURIES 00000 PLEASANT POINT RD Prem Map -   Map -M-14 TOTOKET RD Branford."

The Pleasant Point Road area is a sparse residential location with winding roads, crossed at one point by local, slow moving Tilcon trap rock freight lines. Two vehicle bridges pass over Amtrak lines in the area.  The densley wooded area is also a popular spot for hikers, including those taking the scenic Pine Orchard nature trail which leads to Stony Creek.

Beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m. last night, New Haven area Amtrak riders were delayed for many hours into the night as the investigation proceeded.

The following report was released this morning from the Associated Press (AP):

BRANFORD, Conn. (AP) - Police say a person was struck and killed by a train in Connecticut.

A spokesman for the Department of Transportation says a Shore Line East train hit someone trespassing on the tracks near Pleasant Point Road in Branford Wednesday evening. The tracks have been shut down and there are delays.

Police say it happened at around 7:30 p.m. The train was heading east and there were most likely passengers on board.

Amtrak police are overseeing the investigation, but Branford police and firefighters also responded.

Amtrak Police will be handling the investigation.

The identity of the person killed hasn't been released.