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California train derails after collision with truck California train derails after collision with lorry
(about 3 hours later)
A commuter train and a truck have collided, causing four carriages to derail northwest of Los Angeles. A commuter train has hit a lorry which had driven on railway tracks, 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 was engulfed in flames and 28 people were injured, train operator Metrolink said, four critically.
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 in Oxnard, after the lorry stopped on the tracks, officials said.
The collision happened at a level crossing as the truck turned on to the tracks and stopped, officials said. The 54-year-old lorry driver was detained a mile (1.6km) away and has been charged with felony hit-and-run.
"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. Police in Oxnard say the crash was first reported at 05:44 local time (13:44 GMT).
Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson estimated the train struck the truck at a speed between 40 mph (64 kmCh) to 50 mph. Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson estimated the train struck the lorry at a speed between 40 mph to 50 mph (65-80km/h).
Officials say that no one has died, but 13 people remained in emergency rooms Tuesday afternoon for treatment. "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 a junction about a block away from the incident.
Captain Mike Lindbery told the BBC the train was carrying 51 passengers, and 28 of those were transported to several local hospitals. The train, the first service of the day from East Ventura to Los Angeles, crashed about 65 miles (100 kilometres) away from its destination.
Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders determined that the truck - which was on fire - was unoccupied. Captain Mike Lindbery of the Ventura County Fire Department told the BBC the train was carrying 51 people, three of them crew, and 28 people were taken to several local hospitals.
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. 'Wrong turn'
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. The driver, Jose Alejandro Sanchez Ramirez from Yuma, Arizona, has been detained and hospitalised for observation.
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. He told police he wanted to turn right at a junction, but turned too soon and drove on to the railway tracks, said Oxnard Assistant Police Chief Jason Benitez.
The locomotive had a camera on the lead carriage, footage from which will be used in the investigation. The lorry was driven some way along the tracks before being abandoned and was facing the train head-on when it was hit.
The train had a camera on the front 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.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."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 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.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.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. A Metrolink train collided with a freight train in 2008 in Chatsworth in northern Los Angeles, killing 25 people and injuring more, and another crash at Glendale in 2005 left 11 dead.
A Metrolink train collided with a freight train in 2008 in another part of southern California, killing 25 people and injuring more. Since then, Metrolink has added collapsible bumpers and other extra crash absorption technology to its trains.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the collision? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Tuesday's accident "would have been much worse without" those measures, said Metrolink spokesman Jeff Lustgarten.
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