CLEM MURRAY / Staff photographer
James Mitchell, a city employee, waits yesterday for a train at Melrose Park station, near site of accident.
SEPTA track inspector is killed by a train
A veteran SEPTA track inspector was killed yesterday morning when he was struck by a train in North Philadelphia, police said.
Kevin Sparks, 34, was inspecting a set of northbound tracks near Chelten Avenue and 8th Street, just south of the Melrose Park station, when he was hit by the R3 West Trenton train at 8:43 a.m., said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.
The southbound train apparently had switched earlier to the northbound tracks.
Sparks, of Sharon Hill, Delaware County, was pronounced dead at the scene, Vanore said.
The accident disrupted Regional Rail service for several hours.
- David Gambacorta
