pedestrian struck

Boston College Student Hit By MBTA Commuter Rail Train, in Critical Condition

College officials identified the student as Ariel Cox, a member of the class of 2022 and the daughter of BC economics professor, Donald Cox

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A Boston College student was hospitalized Friday morning after being hit by an MBTA Commuter Rail Train in Newton, Massachusetts.

MBTA transit police said in a tweet the incident took place at the West Newton station.

College officials identified the student as Ariel Cox, a member of the class of 2022. Cox was taken to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston where she was listed in critical condition, college officials said.

"I ask for your thoughts and prayers for BC sophomore Ariel Cox who was critically injured this morning when she was struck by a train in West Newton. She is in the hospital, surrounded by her family," Vice President of Student Affairs Joy Moore said in a statement.

Moore said Cox, a Newton resident, is the daughter of BC economics professor, Donald Cox.

Passenger Kim Childress felt her train suddenly come to a stop as it was heading into Boston's South Station.

"There was a woman yelling, 'emergency, emergency, emergency,'" Childress recalled. "I hate to say it — that it's so normal that the trains stop and you just don't know what's going on."

The Ashland resident said seconds later, she realized that what was happening outside wasn't a routine problem.

"They came on and said that they were getting buses or another train for us because somebody was hit on the tracks," Childress said.

It was not immediately clear how the incident occurred. BC plans to provide more information as it becomes available.

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