Police need help to ID man killed by train

Kapiti police are appealing for the public to help identify a man who died after he was hit by a freight train early today.

The man, in his 20s was as he walked along the tracks near Raumati, 3km west of Paraparaumu, about 1am.

Wellington Police communications manager Kaye Calder said the driver of the northbound train were unable to stop in time to avoid him.

When the train managed to stop a crew member ran back and found the man on the side of the track with head injuries.

Emergency services were called but the man died at the scene.

Police had no idea who the man was or what he was doing walking on the tracks oblivious to impending danger, Ms Calder said.

The man had no wallet or any other identification papers.

He was thought to be in his 20s, 180cm tall, slim to medium build, with medium length brown curly hair and one to two weeks facial growth.

Police said he was wearing blue Diesel jeans, light grey Adidas footwear with three yellow stripes on the shoes, and a blue Sherpa jacket.

Under the jacket he had a black tracksuit top, a blue transformers t-shirt and a yellow hawk t-shirt.

People who saw the man on the tracks, or who knew who he was, were asked to contact police.

- NZPA