2 Dogs Hit By Train, Killed In Somerset County

BRANCHBURG, NJ — Two dogs were hit by a train and killed in Branchburg on Tuesday, said police.

At around 10:14 a.m., Branchburg Police were called to the area of 107 Elm Street in Neshanic Station for the report of two dogs that were hit by a train.

Norfolk Southern train traffic was halted as officers spoke with the dog's owner.

It was found that the dogs were being walked off-leash by their owner on the train tracks before the owner realized a train was coming, according to an initial on-scene investigation.

The owner was unable to get the dogs off the tracks before they were hit by the oncoming train, said Branchburg Police Captain Edward Edgar.

Officers found the two dead dogs on the bridge of the train tracks above the Raritan River.

The owner was uninjured, and there were "no indications of intentional wrongdoing by the owner of the dogs," said Edgar.

The dead dogs were removed from the train tracks and turned over to the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter.

After the area was cleared, Norfolk Southern train traffic resumed.

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