SPENCER —  A man sitting on the railroad tracks behind the N.C. Transportation Museum was struck and killed by a freight train Sunday evening.

The victim, described as African American, had not been identified by press time.

Capt. Jeremi Carter of the Spencer Fire Department was among the emergency personnel on the scene.

“The conductor stated he was sitting on the tracks,” Carter said. The conductor said he blew the train’s horn several times.

The 30-car Norfolk Southern train was traveling north.

The incident happened at 8:58 p.m. in the area between the Transportation Museum and Torbush Street in East Spencer.

Five people died between January and March of this year after being struck while sitting, standing or walking on tracks in North Carolina, according to Operation Lifesaver. The state has been averaging  18-20 such deaths each year.