A 22-year-old man was struck and killed by a freight train late Thursday evening while trying to cross the tracks in Carlsbad Village.

The man, whose name was not immediately available, was hit by a northbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train near the intersection of Grand Avenue and State Street about 11:20 p.m. Thursday, according to San Diego Sheriff‘s Deputy Jeffery Houser.

A witness told CBS8 the man was celebrating his sister’s birthday at a nearby bar prior to being struck.

Others told investigators that the man attempted to cross the tracks as the train was approaching, Houser said. The grade crossing warning system had been activated and was functioning properly at the time, he said.

The victim died at the scene, according to Houser.

— City News Service

Chris Jennewein is founder and senior editor of Times of San Diego.