Victim Identified in Fatal Train Accident

The man struck has been identified as Enrique Zamora Cisneros, 20, of Union City, according to the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau.

Cisneros was hit by a freight train at about 11:30 a.m. on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks about 75 yards away from Smith Street, said Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Aaron Hunt.

He was walking in the middle of the train tracks, facing away from the northbound train, which may have been traveling anywhere between 20 and 50 mph, Hunt said.

The train struck Cisneros, and he was declared dead at the scene.

Union City Patch readers who knew Cisneros said he lived near that area and would frequently walk through the train tracks as a short cut. He always kept his iPod on, they said, possibly explaining why he didn't respond when the train's engineers sounded the horns.

Readers commented that Cisneros was a happy and friendly individual.

“This was one of the sweetest and happiest, most friendly and wonderful young men I have been privileged enough to know and work with,” .

“He just got back from a long visit in Mexico and was always smiling,” . “He was the sweetest, cutest, funniest young guy who brightened my day.”

Cisneros was a student at . He has a twin brother.

"He was absolutely loved by the students and staff," said Maricela Reynoso, the community liaison at Conley Caraballo. "He was active in the school and in the community."

"It's a terrible loss," she said.

Cisneros was a member of the alternative school's book club and an artist in the school's various mural projects. He was also one of the main proponents of the on the positive benefits of public art.

Conley Caraballo Principal Mireya Casarez said students and faculty were shocked by the news of the Sunday morning accident.

"We're very saddened and will do everything we can to support the family," she said.

Friends and relatives are working together to establish a fund to help pay for funeral services.

Since students are on Thanksgiving vacation, information about the fund and services will be released over the next few days on the Conley Caraballo High School Facebook page, Casarez said.

Information will also be posted on Union City Patch.