The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a transient man who was struck by a freight train Tuesday morning in Hughson.

The sheriff’s department is still working on obtaining the man’s identity, said spokesman Sgt. Anthony Bejaran.

The incident was reported at 6:30 a.m. on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks, running parallel to Santa Fe Avenue, just south of E. Hatch Road.

The train, which was pulling 55 cars, was traveling at about 50 mph when the man walking on the tracks came into view, Bejaran said.

The conductor blew his horn, but the man made no attempt to get out of the train’s path.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears to be a suicide,” Bejaran said.

The impact threw the man more than 500 feet from the point of impact.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.