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California train derails after collision with truck | California train derails after collision with truck |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A commuter train and a truck have collided, causing four carriages to derail northwest of Los Angeles. | |
The vehicle became engulfed in flames and at least 28 people have been injured, a fire department spokesman told the BBC. | The vehicle became engulfed in flames and at least 28 people have been injured, a fire department spokesman told the BBC. |
Police in Oxnard, California, say the crash was first reported at 05:44 local time (13:44 GMT). | Police in Oxnard, California, say the crash was first reported at 05:44 local time (13:44 GMT). |
The collision happened at a level crossing as the truck turned on to the tracks and stopped, officials said. | |
"I saw a bright flash, a big fireball and flames, flames going pretty high," said Glenn Frisbie, who was driving to work and sitting at an intersection about a block away from the incident. | |
Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson estimated the train struck the truck at a speed between 40 mph (64 kmh) to 50 mph. | |
Officials say that no one has died, but 13 people remained in emergency rooms Tuesday afternoon for treatment. | |
Captain Mike Lindbery told the BBC the train was carrying 51 passengers, and 28 of those were transported to several local hospitals. | |
Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders determined that the truck - which was on fire - was unoccupied. | |
Shortly afterward, a police officer spotted "what he believed to be a disoriented male" that is now believed to be the driver of the truck, officials said. | |
His name has not been released, but officials have identified him as a 54-year-old truck driver from Arizona. He is said to be cooperating with the investigation and is in stable condition at a local hospital. | |
An investigator told the Associated Press news agency that the driver made a premature right turn at a level crossing, and the vehicle became stuck on the tracks. | |
The locomotive had a camera on the lead carriage, footage from which will be used in the investigation. | The locomotive had a camera on the lead carriage, footage from which will be used in the investigation. |
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the agency that leads transport investigations for the US government, said it was sending a "go-team" to the scene. | |
NTSB spokesman Robert Sumwalt said: "We are very concerned about grade [level] crossings and we intend to use this accident and others to learn from it, so that we can keep it from happening again." | |
He said investigators would be looking into whether the automatic "arms" that act as a barrier to traffic functioned properly, amongst other factors. They will look at data from sensors at the crossing and from the train. | |
He noted that over 2,000 level crossing accidents occur in the US each year, of those approximately 250 are fatal. | |
Mr Johnson said initial reports from the scene indicated the arms and lights were working. | |
The train was destined for Los Angeles, and crashed about 65 miles (100 kilometres) away from its destination. | The train was destined for Los Angeles, and crashed about 65 miles (100 kilometres) away from its destination. |
A Metrolink train collided with a freight train in 2008 in another part of southern California, killing 25 people and injuring more. | A Metrolink train collided with a freight train in 2008 in another part of southern California, killing 25 people and injuring more. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the collision? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the area? Did you witness the collision? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist. |
Email your pictures, video or audio to us at yourpics@bbc.co.uk | Email your pictures, video or audio to us at yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
Terms and conditions for sending contributions to the BBC. | Terms and conditions for sending contributions to the BBC. |
Have your say | Have your say |