Victim dies after making contact with electrified 3rd rail along Blue Line tracks in Austin

CHICAGO — Authorities are searching for answers on Thursday morning after a person was found dead on the train tracks on the city’s West Side after coming into contact with the electrified third rail.

Chicago police say the victim, an unidentified male, was found unresponsive along the train tracks in the 700 block of South Central Avenue, just east of the Austin Blue Line stop.

While it is unclear how the victim got onto the tracks, during the incident, officers said the victim came into contact with the third rail.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was later pronounced dead on the scene.

Detectives are now conducting a death investigation and autopsy results are pending.

The incident caused some disruptions for Blue Line riders early Thursday morning after trains were briefly halted, but full service resumed by 8 a.m.