Man killed after falling onto train track

Witnesses say he slipped trying to get on

A man who was running to catch a Tri-Rail train at the Pompano Beach station was killed Friday when he fell onto the tracks below, witnesses told investigators.

It happened shortly after 8 a.m. at the station on the 3400 block of Northwest Eighth Avenue and appears to be accidental, according to the Broward Sheriff ’s Office.

The Sheriff ’s Office identified the man as Mohamed Slimani, 29, of West Palm Beach.

Witnesses told investigators Slimani was running after the train and grabbed onto a railing, said sheriff ’s office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion. He then lost his grip and fell under the train.

One man told WPLG-Ch.10 that Slimani tried to get on the train as the doors were closing, but slipped, fell and was run over.

There were 250 people aboard the northbound train when the incident happened, according to Tri-Rail spokeswoman Bonnie Arnold.

“Part of [the train] was still in the station,” she said, so officials were able to get the passengers off and bring them to another platform.

At least half a dozen Tri-Rail buses were sent to take passengers from one other station to bring them to Pompano Beach since the track was closed as an investigation was taking place. The track was reopened about 11 a.m.

No other injuries were reported.

MARIA LORENZINO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Investigators huddle around a crime scene after a man was run over by a train at the Pompano Beach Tri-Rail station on Friday.