Man found hanging from Walker Street railroad trestle

Watsonville police join forces with Monterey County Sheriff deputies Friday in the investigation of a man's death on the Walker Street railroad trestle where it spans the Pajaro River. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian)

WATSONVILLE — Police are investigating the death of a man who was found Friday morning hanging from the Walker Street railroad trestle.

Watsonville police Sgt. Eric Taylor said the man was discovered at 9:55 a.m. on the Monterey County side of the steel and wood bridge by a group of Pajaro Middle School students in the Fitness for Life bicycling class as they crossed the bridge.

The man was later identified as Francisco Javier Flores Mendoza, 54.

Police are not ruling out suicide, although they said the victim had some trauma inconsistent with a hanging. Investigators sealed off both ends of the bridge and a large area near the man’s body with yellow crime scene tape.

An official from Union Pacific Railroad was summoned to help stop rail traffic over the trestle until the investigation could wrap up and the body could be recovered.

Several homeless people who wandered out of the undergrowth along the Pajaro River came up to the crime scene to watch the investigation unfold. A couple of them said they believed the victim’s name was Poncho or Francisco.

The man’s body was hanging from a railing just over the edge on the west side of the bridge. He was fully clothed and appeared to wear blue jeans and white sneakers.

Police described him as Hispanic.

“This is a Monterey County Sheriff’s case since the body is on their side of the county line,” Taylor said.



Share on Facebook