MADRID, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A man and a woman died after being struck by a train late Sunday night in western Spain, authorities confirmed on Monday.

The victims, aged 41 and 42, were found dead near the railway tracks around 11:00 p.m. local time, close to Moriscos station in Salamanca province.

Emergency services responded after a railway employee reported the incident. The Civil Guard later located both bodies near the scene.

Authorities confirmed the victims were a couple who were in the process of separating. Investigators found the man's car parked nearby, along with a dog and the woman's mobile phone.

Local newspaper El Correo de Galicia cited the train driver as saying he saw the pair struggling on or near the tracks moments before the collision. He was unable to determine whether they were fighting or if one was attempting to stop the other from stepping onto the tracks.

An investigation is ongoing, and no hypothesis has been ruled out, said Rosa Lopez, assistant government delegate for Salamanca. ■