A 39-year-old man died Saturday morning when he rode his bicycle in front of an oncoming freight train in Turlock.

David Arthur Sanchez was struck and killed by the train at 10:41 a.m. Saturday at the railroad crossings at Golden State Boulevard and Fulkerth Road.

Witnesses to the horrific scene said Sanchez was riding his bicycle westbound on Fulkerth in the eastbound lane. The train alarm was sounding and the crossing arms were down when Sanchez attempted to cross over the railroad tracks.

“Some of the witnesses thought that he had actually made it to the other side, but unfortunately he hadn’t,” said Turlock Police Sgt. Russell Holeman.

The incident happened just as the Stanislaus County Fair was getting ready to open for the day. The train stayed in place until just after 3 p.m., causing some traffic congestion in the area.

Sanchez is survived by three children and five brothers and sisters. His cousin, Leanna Tovar, recalled him as a man who loved to joke and adored the San Francisco 49ers.

“He enjoyed going to church and when things were going wrong he would say ‘It's going to be ok. Pray,’” said Tovar. “He is missed by so many already.”

The family has started a go fund me campaign to help pay for funeral expenses. The page can be found at http://www.gofundme.com/bwl5i0.

Since 2009, there have been 10 deaths in Turlock involving trains.