9-year-old girl hit and killed by train in Las Cruces

Police identified Nancy Harvey as the child who died near South Main Street and Conway Avenue in Las Cruces. The fatal incident occurred early Tuesday morning on the railroad tracks. Emergency crews found the nine-year-old child dead at the scene around 2 a.m.

Harvey wandered away from her home on the 200 block of Conway Avenue, police said. The girl was autistic, according to investigators. Her family reported her missing shortly before the discovery.

A southbound BNSF train struck Harvey near the intersection, Las Cruces Police announced. The train came to a stop following the collision, police added. It stopped quickly.

Railroad companies cooperate with local emergency responders during collisions on commercial tracks. Municipal officers investigate pedestrian deaths within city limits. The inquiry remains open.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.