HAYWARD -- A 16-year-old boy was fatally struck by an Amtrak train early Wednesday while crossing railroad tracks on his way to Hayward's Tennyson High School.

Hayward police Lt. Gary Branson said the victim and two male friends were walking to school and apparently opted to take a shortcut and cross tracks about 1 mile south of the Hayward Amtrak station.

Two boys successfully crossed the tracks and escaped injury, but the third boy was struck by train No. 523 and died on impact at about 8 a.m., according to Branson.

About 100 passengers were onboard the train, which was traveling at 79 mph when it struck the boy.

The four-car train was heading for San Jose from Sacramento and was about two hours behind schedule, according to Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham.

Buses were provided to transport the passengers onboard the train involved in the collision shortly after the crash occurred when service on that line was halted.