James Lowder, a 19-year-old sophomore pre-business administration major, died last Friday after being hit by a passing train, according to Chico Police Department.

Lowder was found by the railroad tracks near West Seventh St. at about 4 a.m. on Nov. 15 after authorities were notified by an Amtrak engineer, according an email sent to the campus community Tuesday.

Police say that Lowder was hit by a train owned by Union Pacific that passed through earlier that night at about 3 p.m. 3 a.m.

Since Friday, police have spoken to people who had seen Lowder at a party earlier that morning, said Sgt. Rob Merrifield of Chico Police Department. Lowder lived on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from where the party took place.

“It’s possible he was walking home at the time,” Merrifield said.

The Chico Police Department is currently working with a representative from Union Pacific to investigate what happened.

Lowder, who was born on Dec. 29, 1993, came to Chico from the Folsom area, according to the university email. He first enrolled at Chico State in fall 2012.  Services for Lowder will be held Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. at Lakeside Church in Folsom, Calif.

Nicholas Carr can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.

Editor’s note: The train that police allege hit Lowder passed through Chico at 3 a.m., not 3 p.m.