Railroad employee from Spokane Valley killed by train

A Union Pacific employee from Spokane Valley was struck and killed by a train early Tuesday while working in a rail yard in Wallula, Washington.

The Walla Walla County coroner told local news outlets that John P. Schneider, 54, was killed instantly at the rail yard southeast of Kennewick.

A spokesman for the railroad, Justin Jacobs, said the accident occurred at about 5 a.m. during “switching operations” and is under investigation.

No other injuries were reported.