A woman was hit and killed by a CSX train in Marion County early Wednesday morning.

It happened just after midnight on the 2500 block of Northeast 180th Street in Citra.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrived to find a white female dead on the east side of the railroad tracks.

Deputies said the CSX conductor told them he was operating the train heading northbound to Jacksonville when he observed someone walking beside the tracks. 

As the train got closer to the intersection, the conductor said the woman walked onto the tracks. The conductor told investigators he was unable to stop the train in time and the woman was hit.

Deputies are asking for the public’s help to identify her.  She is described as being 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches in height and was wearing a black skirt, blue colored jacket, a pink shirt, Nike high tops and a red bracelet on her left arm that reads “Protect Nurses.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County (352) 368-STOP (7867).