UPDATE

Man, woman hit and killed by Christmas-themed train in Wareham

Woman identified as Melissa Gaudette
Nov 17, 2018

A scenic train filled with children and their families celebrating Christmas struck and killed two people near Minot Avenue on Saturday night.

Officials said a 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were on the tracks at mile post 52.5 along the Cape Maine Line, near 72 Minot Ave., when they were hit by “The Train to Christmas Town.”

Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims have not yet been identified by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, but an official with knowledge of the incident reported they were homeless. According to published media reports, the woman was identified as Melissa Gaudette, a mother of three. 

A district attorney spokesman said the train had left Buzzards Bay and no passengers were injured. Officials said the train’s conductor notified police that the victims were struck at 7:29 p.m. 

“The conductor made attempts to stop the train and activated the train’s emergency braking system prior to impact,” said Plymouth County District Attorney spokeswoman Beth Stone in a statement. 

The Cape Cod Central Railroad operates the Christmas-themed train, which runs from Buzzards Bay to Rochester. According to the company’s website, the “Train to Christmas Town” is based on a children’s book by the same name and features music, games and costumed crew members. Saturday’s trip was a final dress rehearsal. Regular service is set to begin on Nov. 23.  said 355 people were on board Saturday. 

Passengers were held on the train for nearly two hours while authorities investigated. Officials from the State Police, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police and Wareham Police set up a command post on Minot Avenue in a parking lot across the street from Minot Forest Elementary School.

In a statement, P. Christopher Podgurski, president of Cape Rail Inc., said of those passengers 200 were children. He noted the accident occurred on an “isolated stretch of track” behind Minot Avenue.

Podgurski expressed condolences for the victims.

“Our hearts go out to the families,” he said.

According to a Wareham Police Department press release, officials were concerned the passengers would have to be shuttled from the scene. As a result, several Wareham Public Schools buses were sent to Minot Forest Elementary. Ultimately, the buses were not needed and the train was allowed to return to Buzzards Bay.

Wareham Police said the investigation is ongoing.

“The incident does not appear suspicious and is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police assigned to District Attorney Timothy Cruz’s office, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Police, and the Wareham Police Department,” according to the statement.