ATHOL — A Leominster man killed Tuesday after being struck by a train in Athol was identified by the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office Wednesday morning.

Police say Raymond Regan, 65, was on foot Tuesday morning, traveling west on a roughly 100-foot-long railroad trestle crossing the Millers River in Athol, when he was apparently “unsuccessful in removing himself from the tracks as a train approached,” according to Mary Carey, spokeswoman for the DA’s office.

Regan was transported to Athol Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after noon.

Athol Police Chief Russell Kleber described the death as a tragic accident and said it occurred in the eastern part of Athol, near Royalston. He said it appears the man was hunting near the railroad tracks and misjudged the train. The chief explained an ambulance drove to Royalston to drop off medical personnel who were transported 10 minutes to the scene in a road-rail truck belonging to the railroad.

Kleber said Athol Fire Chief John Duguay drove the ambulance to the Athol train depot to rendezvous with the road-rail truck carrying Regan. The ambulance got a police escort to Athol Memorial. Kleber said a LifeFlight helicopter flying over the area landed at the hospital but was not needed.

“The EMTs and paramedics did a great job,” Kleber said. “They gave this guy a chance.”

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The incident remains under investigation.

Representatives of the Athol and Royalston police and fire departments, State Police assigned to the Athol barracks, railroad police, and State Police assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene, according to Carey.

Kleber said train-related deaths happen more often than most people would think.

“I don’t think the general public understands about train safety and why they have to stay away from railroad tracks, because if you make a miscalculation with a train, it’s not going to bode well for you,” he said.

You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258. On Twitter: @DomenicPoli