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Authorities Probe Why Man Killed by Freight Train Was On Tracks

HAWTHORNE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man who was struck and killed by a freight train in Hawthorne, N.J., has been identified, but investigators Sunday still did not know why he was on the tracks.

The man killed in the accident early Saturday morning was identified as Edward Jefferson, 61, of Paterson.

Police in Hawthorne said the accident was reported around 2:15 a.m. Saturday by the engineer of the train, which was traveling south on the New York Susquehanna and Western Line.

The engineer said he believed he had struck someone on the tracks, and responding officers found the body a short time later.

Relatives identified Jefferson as the victim on Sunday morning, a few hours after they had reported him missing to Paterson police.

Authorities say an autopsy determined that Jefferson died from blunt force trauma. The manner of death was not released.

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