The Rev. Robert Davis Sr. was struck at the Passaic Street crossing off Railroad Avenue across from the Hackensack Market around 2:45 p.m., Capt. Darrin DeWitt said.
It wasn't immediately clear how Davis, the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, ended up in the path of the Spring Valley-bound #2115 NJ Transit train or which part struck him.
His wife, the Rev. Carolyn Davis, was doing voter registration outside of the market and he was walking from home to be with her when he was struck, a close family friend said.
Police and paramedics from Hackensack University Medical Center who arrived within moments conducted CPR, DeWitt said.
Resuscitation efforts continued while the reverend was being taken to nearby Hackensack University Medical Center, where Davis was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, he said.
The Spring Valley-bound train had left from Hoboken at 2:13 p.m. NJ Transit spokesman Paul Milo said. None of the 50 passengers and crew aboard were injured, he said.
NJ Transit police were investigating.
Service on the Pascack Valley Line was temporarily suspended.
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