An 80-year-old man from the La Pine area died early Friday morning, when a Burlington Northern Sante Fe train hit him near Wickiup Junction.

Normand Gaudet, 80, likely committed suicide at approximately 12:20 a.m., according to a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office news release. “No evidence has been found to suggest that this case was accidental, a homicide or otherwise criminal in nature,” according to the release.

Sheriff’s deputies, the Oregon State Police, the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District and the Oregon Department of Transportation responded, but Gaudet died at the scene.

When the train stopped, it was blocking the southbound lane of U.S. Highway 97 and the highway was closed for about 1.5 hours, according to the release.

“He’s always been a wonderful neighbor,” said Ann Cassidy, who lived next door to Gaudet.

Michelle Shaffer, who lived down the street from Gaudet, said he always made donations when her children were doing food drives and fundraising activities. “He was generous,” Shaffer said.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and the Sheriff’s Office is working with the medical examiner’s office to determine whether drugs or alcohol factored into Gaudet’s death.