By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A Peabody man died early Tuesday when his 2012 Jeep Liberty was hit by an Amtrak train northeast of Peabody.

Sheriff Rob Craft said train crew members reported the Jeep was stopped on the tracks without its lights on when the accident occurred.

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Steven C. Holdren, 67, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at Remington and 80th Rds.

The accident was reported by both a Peabody firefighter and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad at 2:43 a.m.

Law enforcement officers, emergency medical services, and firefighters converged at the site and the railroad line was shut down. It was uncertain for a time whether Holdren was alone in the Jeep until EMS confirmed there was only one person inside.

It was several hours before the train proceeded westbound again.

“The wreckage had to be cleaned up, and there was damage to the engine,” Craft said.

Craft said the accident remains under investigation.