While Amtrak continues its investigation into Tuesday's tragic news involving the fatality of a Branford hiker, police and railway safety officials say ongoing efforts will continue to alert the public not to enter the rail corridor.

As previously reported, the tragedy unfolded on Tuesday, June 14; as police announced a search underway for a missing person, Sarah Addy, 31, last known to be leaving for a June 13 afternoon hike in nearby woods. She left on foot from her family's home on Thimble Island Road in Stony Creek. Sadly, later in the evening on June 14, Branford Police reported a combined search involving Amtrak and Connecticut State Police (CSP) had located Addy, deceased and struck by a train later confirmed to be an Amtrak Acela.

Amtrak spokesperson Craig Schulz told The Sound/Zip06 that, on June 13, "...there was a report of a train having struck something on Monday afternoon around 2 p.m.," in the Stony Creek area; where the corridor speed of passing trains can range between 60 and 90 miles per hour, he said.

"The next sequence of events was the body found on Tuesday night," said Schulz. "At the request of local police, we held trains clear of that area at that time."

Branford Police Captain Geoffrey Morgan said the afternoon search for Addy on Tuesday created some leads, including initial tracking by Branford K-9 Joker and his handler. A CSP K-9 Bloodhound and handler team later successfully located Addy, deceased, at approximately 7:15 p.m. on June 14.

"Joker's an excellent police dog that's cross-trained to be well-rounded; but he was unable to locate her that afternoon," said Morgan. "That evening, working with a State Police Bloodhound that's trained in search and rescue, State Police were able to re-run the route Joker's handler shared with them to continue to the search to its conclusion."

Morgan said the investigation is now with Amtrak and reminded the public that hikers and others need to be vigilant and remain clear of the railway.

"The tracks are not a place to hike or to walk. They are not a place for foot traffic," said Morgan.

Schulz said Amtrak works diligently to get that message out and more; including collaborating with non-profit Operation Lifesaver Inc. to promote the catch phrase "See Tracks, Think Train."

"That's something we are very much focused on," said Schulz. "We work with Operation Lifesaver to raise awareness on safety (and) do lot of work in schools and with other community outreach events to raise awareness about dangers of railroads. Trains can operate in any direction, on any track at any time. It's a very important issue to us and we're always trying to raise awareness. "

The rail corridor land is private property and to enter it is to trespass, he added. As of this afternoon, Schulz confirmed Amtrak's investigation into the Branford fatality is continuing.

In recent months, Branford has endured a tragic spike in deaths of individuals struck by trains, a total of three fatalities. Investigations into the Oct. 2015 and April 2016 fatalities found the victims to have intentionally placed themselves in harm's way.

"I would not discount the impact that situations like this have on the train crews, either," said Schulz. "These are tragic events for a whole number of people. That's why we do as much outreach as we do."

The Sound/Zip06 has requested and is awaiting official cause of death from the State Medical Examiner's Office.

In her obituary issued by W.S. Clancy Funeral Home, Addy was remembered as the daughter of Stony Creek residents Robert and Deborah Graham, sister to Kevin Graham and wife of David Addy of Wallingford. Addy was a 2002 graduate of Branford High School, where she was described as a "scholar-athlete playing soccer and lacrosse." She earned a BA (magna cum laude) from St. Michael's College.

"We will miss her caring and generous nature," her family noted in the obituary. "She had a passion for baking, a love of music and numerous arts and crafts. Her particular liking was painting, especially the rock at the end of her driveway that displayed her happy inner child for all to see. You could always see and feel her vibrant spirit and loving soul through her beautiful green eyes. She and David enjoyed their married life together. They shared a love of nature and the ocean. They hiked and biked together and their vacations always included the ocean."

A memorial service takes place Friday June 17 at 7 p.m. at W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home (224 North Main St.) in Branford; friends may call from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. The family also shared donations in her honor may be made to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter and the Branford Compassion Club.