SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Sheriff says a man was hit and killed by a train while walking his dog this morning near the Sorrento Valley Coaster station.
Deputies do not believe this is a suicide but possibly an attempt to save his dog.
CBS 8 spoke to his girlfriend who said he was the nicest man she ever knew.
While sheriff's deputies were on the scene investigating a man who had been hit and killed by a North County Transit District Coaster train, investigators said San Diego Police received a call about a distressed dog outside his owner's door not far from the tracks in Sorrento Valley.
A sheriff's department lieutenant says the train conductor was heading south around 6:30 a.m. when he saw a man attempting to free a dog on the tracks.
The train's conductor tried to hit the brakes, but the man was thrown from the tracks.
Deputies say they didn't find a leash but believe the husky ran on the tracks and the man was trying to get him off but was hit and killed by the train.
Deputies are still investigating and have not released his identity until his family is notified.
Since the family has not been notified, to protect their privacy CBS 8 is not naming the man or his girlfriend, but we did speak to her this morning.
She says the man loved his dog named Kilo who was about two years old.
The woman and her 52-year-old boyfriend had two sons ages 19 and 25 and he lived in an apartment about a mile away from the tracks.
The girlfriend says the dog is now at her home and is ok.
She says the man was the nicest person she knew and would always send her positive messages.
Amtrak and the NCTD Coaster were stopped during the emergency but returned to service.