A Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad spokesman says a 41-year-old Wapato, Wash., man has been struck and killed by a freight train in that central Washington town south of Yakima.

The crew of the local freight train sounded their whistle and applied the emergency brakes Friday afternoon but could not avoid the man lying in the train's right of way.

The man's name was not released.

Spokesman Gus Melonas said the collision took place at a public crossing with automatic flashers and gates. He says it's the fourth fatality so far this year on BNSF rail lines in Washington.

Local police and BNSF officials were investigating.