Man struck and killed by METROrail train near NRG Park

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man was struck by a METRO light rail train and killed this afternoon near NRG Park.

According to METRO, the man walked in front of the train on Fannin near the 610 South Loop shortly before 4pm. He appeared to ignore the emergency signals.

"There are a number of what can be described as panhandlers standing on the sidewalk at Fannin and 610 Loop," said Jerome Gray with METRO. "Apparently one of the gentleman who had a sign in his hand was about to cross the street. The sign said do not walk. The guard rail was down and a train was coming by. He walked in the path of the train and our train hit this gentleman."

The accident had Fannin and the feeder road shut down, causing big traffic problems for people coming from the Texas Medical Center.

The METRO red line was shut down for much of the afternoon.