Pedestrian dead after being struck by METROrail train near NRG

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A pedestrian is dead after being involved in an accident with a METROrail train near NRG Park.

It happened just before noon along the South Loop and Fannin.

Eyewitnesses say they saw the man who was hit and killed by the train walking on these tracks with his back to the train. They also say he was wearing ear buds.

Though METRO says the crossing arms were downs, the "Do not walk" sign was up and the operator was blowing his horn.

This is the second time within a week that someone was hit and killed by a METRO train at the same intersection.

Last week, 33-year-old Steven White was killed. His parents told Eyewitness News that their son is hearing impaired and wears hearing aids and possibly did not hear the train's horn.

"They think the whistles may not be loud enough what do you say to that?" we asked Jerome Gray, METRO Transit's spokesperson.

"At this particular case and we have it set to the highest levels in terms of warning," Gray replied.

"Can you make it louder?" we asked.

"I don't know. I presume we can unless it requires some manufacturing or mechanical change to it - I don't know," he said.

Metro says the whistles are set by NTSB standards, though the agency will evaluate more after this accident.

Wednesday's victim was a homeless man in his late 50's. His name has not been released.