Puyallup Train Accident Today: One Dead, Another Injured Near North Meridian Crossing
PUYALLUP, Washington — October 21, 2026 — One person died and another was taken to hospital after a freight train struck people near the North Meridian railroad crossing in downtown Puyallup on Wednesday afternoon, according to local authorities and emergency responders.
The incident occurred near 201 North Meridian at approximately 2 p.m., prompting a police and fire response and temporary closures at railroad crossings in the downtown area.
Puyallup police identified the person who died as a 59-year-old man who was using an electric wheelchair and was on the tracks when the train approached.
According to police, two nearby people tried to help the man get off the tracks before the collision but were unable to move him to safety. Initial reports indicated that another person had been injured. Authorities later clarified that one of the people who attempted to help was transported to a hospital.
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue confirmed the fatality and the hospital transport. The condition of the hospitalized person was not fully detailed in the reports reviewed.
Puyallup Police Captain Jeremy Hedrick said the incident did not appear to be intentional based on the information available during the initial investigation. Authorities had not released a complete account of how the man came to be on the tracks.
The investigation remained ongoing, and officials had not announced further conclusions about the circumstances leading to the collision.
Following the incident, downtown railroad crossings were blocked while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. Police urged drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes, including State Route 512, the Shaw Road Bridge, 15th Street Southeast at East Pioneer, and 12th Street Northwest at West Stewart.
The closures were expected to continue for a period while authorities handled the scene. Sound Transit also reported delays to S Line train services.
The fatal collision has drawn attention to the dangers of railroad tracks and the difficulty of reaching someone in immediate danger when a train is approaching.
Authorities have not announced a final investigative finding. Further details may be released as police complete their review.