A woman was hit by a freight train Saturday afternoon and dragged after becoming trapped underneath it in Minneapolis, fire officials said. The woman was removed after it stopped near the 3600 block of Central Avenue.

The Canadian Pacific crew saw the woman on the tracks and sounded the horn, but the train "unfortunately, was unable to avoid making contact," despite applying the emergency brake, a spokesman said Sunday.

The train's stoppage led to several streets being blocked at rail crossings for about 4½ hours after the woman was struck. The woman was hospitalized. Her condition not been disclosed, and authorities have yet to release her identity.

Police said Sunday that they are treating the case as an attempted suicide.

Paul Walsh