Authorities identify woman killed by freight train in downtown Modesto

The Stanislaus County Coroner’s office on Tuesday identified the woman killed by a freight train as a Turlock resident.

Verona Ovrahim, 30, was struck and killed in downtown Modesto Monday afternoon. The incident slowed traffic at several street crossings, police reported.

Ovrahim was on the track at Eighth and I streets when the Union Pacific Railroad train hit her at about 5 p.m., spokeswoman Jessica Smart of the Modesto Police Department said.

The reason why the woman was on the track is under investigation, Smart said.

The train remained stopped into the evening, blocking crossings from D to L streets and slowing access to Highway 99.

This story was originally published August 21, 2017 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Authorities identify woman killed by freight train in downtown Modesto."