Local teacher struck by train Local teacher struck by train (December 17, 2004)

Officials unsure if death was accident or suicide

By Julie O'Shea

A science teacher at Egan Junior High School was killed Sunday after being struck by a commuter train heading into Palo Alto.

The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office said Matthew Heroux, 31, died instantly of massive head injuries. However, Caltrain officials said they have not determined whether the incident was an accident and are currently investigating the death.

Those who knew Heroux, a San Jose resident, said they doubt it was suicide; they said he was a man who loved life and had every reason to live. His wife was expecting the couple's first child, a girl, in May.

"It is a complete shock. You can't fathom it," said Brenda Dyckman, principal at Egan Junior High in Los Altos, where Heroux taught science for the past two years. "He was a good man. This was a happy, happy person."

Dyckman said Heroux was visiting friends in the Palo Alto area Sunday night. Although Heroux was an avid Caltrain rider, Dyckman said the eighth-grade science teacher didn't know where the Palo Alto station was and may have become disoriented trying to find the downtown stop. Dyckman said Heroux's wife, Theresa, had been out of town Sunday.

Jayme Maltbie Kunz, a Caltrain spokesperson, said the conductor of a southbound train saw a man laying across the tracks at about 7:10 p.m. on Sunday. According to the conductor's statement, the man's head was resting on one of the rails.

Kunz said the conductor blared his horn and hit the emergency brakes, but the man never got off the tracks. This is the ninth death on Caltrain's tracks this year.

"We've never had a tragedy quite like this," said Los Altos Superintendent Marge Gratiot, who was alerted about Heroux's death after receiving a late-night phone call from Egan's principal.

"When the phone rings in the middle of the night, it's hardly a good thing," Gratiot said.

Gratiot said the school brought in numerous counselors to speak with students about the incident. She said a substitute teacher will cover Heroux's classes until a replacement is hired.

Dyckman said students are planning to plant a memorial tree for Heroux, who loved nature and had pet turtles in his classroom.

"I think it's one of those events that will never be truly explained," Dyckman said. "It's devastating, it really is."

The principal said the school is starting a fund for Heroux's unborn daughter. Those wishing to donate can make checks out to Egan Junior High School and send them to the office at 100 W. Portola Ave., Los Altos, CA 94022.

A funeral service will be held Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. at St. Leo's The Great, located at 88 Race Street in San Jose.
E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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