Woman hit by train in Pismo Beach is identified

The woman struck and killed by a train in Pismo Beach on Wednesday night had lived on the Central Coast for at least three decades, her son said Friday.

Pismo Beach police identified the woman as Veronica Lynne Clancy, 59.

Police Cmdr. Jake Miller said Friday that police believe Clancy was walking on the railroad tracks when she was hit but are still investigating where she entered the tracks.

They do not suspect foul play but are still investigating, he added.

According to statements from those who witnessed the incident, including one person who was with Clancy at the time, “she was trying to get out of the way of the train,” Miller said.

Clancy was homeless, but she had lived in the area for years, most recently in the Five Cities area, said her son, Wesley Schlitz, 36. She had three children, including Joshua Cropper of Fresno and Lisa Farney of the Five Cities area, he said.

“She liked to help people as much as possible,” Schlitz said. “She liked to help homeless people as much as she could, even though she was homeless herself.”

A friend who did not want to be identified described Clancy as a loving mother and grandmother who had studied nursing. She was born on Long Island in New York but lived in the Central Coast area for many years, he said.

Authorities found her body about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday just south of Frady Lane near the tracks under the Highway 101 overpass. The area doesn’t have a formal crossing, Miller said.

Clancy was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of her injuries. An autopsy will be performed next week.

The call first came into the Grover Beach Police Department, but after an initial search didn’t locate a body, authorities reviewed statements from the train’s engineer and discovered that the incident occurred in Pismo Beach.

This story was originally published May 24, 2013 at 2:42 PM with the headline "Woman hit by train in Pismo Beach is identified."