Fleeing Suspect Dies After Jumping in Front of Train

A Warminster man who was struck by a SEPTA train while fleeing from police in Jenkintown on Monday morning has died from his injuries, authorities said this afternoon.

According to authorities at a recent press conference, Thomas W. Borden, 33, of Warminster, was pronounced dead at . Borden was the alleged suspect that jumped in front of a SEPTA train today near the Jenkintown station. His manhunt caused area businesses and Jenkintown schools to go on lock-down while policed searched.

According to a release provided by Deptuy Chief John A. Livingood, area departments were notified of the wanted suspect driving a blue and tan Ford pick-up truck in the area of Route 309 southbound at 9:23 a.m. today. Borden was wanted, according to the report, by the Schuyler County New York's Sheriff's Department for a probation violation. 

"The vehicle was spotted by at least one police agency, but was traveling at an extermely high rate of speed and was quickly lost," said the release. "The truck was next seen in Cheltenham and then in Jenkintown."

After a Jenkintown officer identified the truck, it was stuck in area traffic and was later found abandoned in the parking lot of Jenkintown Grade School at Florence Avenue and West Avenue, Jenkintown. Both schools were put on lock-down quickly, according to the release.

Cheltenham, Abington and other area officers were called to the scene to assist in searching for the suspect.

Borden was observed by Cheltenham and Abington officers walking in the areas of Rodman Avenue and Old York Road in Abington when he was stopped for questioning, according to reports. Borden provided a false name and then took off on foot. He ran through a yard, onto train tracks, over an embankment and through the brush, said Livingood in the report.

"The officers chased him along the tracks in the direction toward Philadelphia," he said. "They observed a train moving towards them on one of the set of tracks. The officers saw Borden purposely jump in front of the train as it approached them. The officers immeidately rendered first aid and called for assistance."

Livingood called this a "worst case situation" given today's outcome. He said the suspect, who was wanted for murder, likely committed the alleged crime last week.

More information is to come in a press conference being held now. Patch reporters are on the scene and more information will be provided as released.