Teen dies playing chicken with train

A teenager was fatally struck by an Amtrak train in San Lorenzo Thursday night near a high school as he and some friends were playing "chicken" with a train, Alameda County sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson confirmed

Three teenagers were walking south on the railroad tracks near San Lorenzo High School, playing chicken with the northbound Amtrak train, when a teenage boy was struck by the train and killed.

The Capitol Corridor train, which was headed to Sacramento from San Jose, struck the teen just after 6:45  p.m. near Lewelling Boulevard and Via Granada, according to deputies.

His two friends, a 15-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, were shaken but not hurt.

Investigators called this was a tragic accident that didn't have to happen.

Some of the family members of the two other kids were out on the scene. Authorities said they're still working on notifying the victim's family about what happened and won't release the teen's name or age until they can do so.  

Lewelling Boulevard between Via Granada and Ashland was shut down for several hours while emergency crews and investigators worked, but they re-opened the road just after 9 p.m.

The train was delayed at the scene in San Lorenzo until 8:40 p.m.

Amtrak brought in a relief crew to take the place of the crew that was on-board at the time of the fatality.