Police Officer Hit, Killed While Directing Emergency Crews to a Fire by New Jersey Transit Train

(New York-WABC, December 31, 2003) -- A bizarre tragedy involving a police officer in Dover, New Jersey. The officer was directing emergency crews to a fire when he was hit by a New Jersey Transit train. Puzzled detectives admit the circumstances are sketchy.

This apparently started when police got a call about a fire on the train tracks. It was about 9:00 p.m.

Officer Arthur Olsen responded and started directing fire trucks to the scene. He was hit by a westbound New Jersey Transit train.

Emergency crews on the scene were able to start treating the officer right away, and he was air lifted to an area hospital, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead about 45 minutes after the accident.

Investigators are trying to figure out how officer Olsen did not hear or see the oncoming train. But at this point in the investigation, it looks like it was a tragic accident.

Thirty passengers on board the train were taken off and escorted to Dover train station.

Officer Olsen's had been on the police department for some time, and had also been a volunteer firefighter for 15 years. His father had been the Dover police chief.