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Commuter train in California hits truck and derails; truck driver arrested Commuter train in California hits truck and derails, injuring 28
(about 3 hours later)
A commuter train in southern California derailed after hitting a truck early Tuesday morning, sending dozens of people to the hospital. No one was killed, authorities said.A commuter train in southern California derailed after hitting a truck early Tuesday morning, sending dozens of people to the hospital. No one was killed, authorities said.
The driver of the truck fled the scene but was later arrested, according to Capt. Mike Lindbery, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department. The Ventura County Fire Department initially said that the driver of the truck fled the scene and was later arrested, but they later amended that to say the driver was not under arrest.
Lindbery said that 28 people were transported to area hospitals, while 23 other people were not injured. No one had to be extricated from the train cars, which derailed in Oxnard, Calif., about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Capt. Mike Lindbery, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department, said that 28 people were transported to area hospitals, while 23 other people were not injured. There were 50 passengers on the train, none of whom had to be extricated when the three rail cars derailed. The crash occurred in Oxnard, Calif., about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The driver of the truck, a 54-year-old man who was not identified, was one of the people transported to the hospital for treatment.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a team of investigators to the scene of the accident, the second time this month that it has responded to a crash involving a commuter train hitting a vehicle on the tracks.The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a team of investigators to the scene of the accident, the second time this month that it has responded to a crash involving a commuter train hitting a vehicle on the tracks.
Earlier this month, a Metro-North train in New York crashed into an SUV that had stopped at a track crossing; six people were killed, including the SUV’s driver.Earlier this month, a Metro-North train in New York crashed into an SUV that had stopped at a track crossing; six people were killed, including the SUV’s driver.
The Metrolink train was heading from Ventura County and to Union Station in Los Angeles when it struck the vehicle at around 5:45 a.m., about 20 minutes after its scheduled departure from East Ventura. It was supposed to get to Union Station a little less than 90 minutes later.The Metrolink train was heading from Ventura County and to Union Station in Los Angeles when it struck the vehicle at around 5:45 a.m., about 20 minutes after its scheduled departure from East Ventura. It was supposed to get to Union Station a little less than 90 minutes later.
The accident occurred at a busy intersection where cars are able to travel over the train tracks. The vehicle The accident was at a busy intersection where cars are able to travel over the train tracks. Lindbery said that the lights at the intersection were still flashing in the hours after the crash, indicating that drivers should have stopped for an oncoming train before crossing the tracks. “Anytime the vehicle moves onto the tracks with the lights on it’s considered a trespassing,” he said.
Lindbery said that the lights at the intersection were still flashing in the hours after the crash, indicating that drivers should have stopped for an oncoming train before crossing the tracks. Police told the Los Angeles Times that the crash appeared to have been an accident, saying the driver, who initially fled, was being cooperative.
“Anytime the vehicle moves onto the tracks with the lights on it’s considered a trespassing,” he said.
At least two people who were taken to the hospital had serious injuries, Lindbery said.
“I know we had a couple that were in what we call “triage immediate,” Lindbery said in a phone interview. “Those were the ones first out on the way to the hospital.”“I know we had a couple that were in what we call “triage immediate,” Lindbery said in a phone interview. “Those were the ones first out on the way to the hospital.”
There are a dozen stations on Metrolink’s Ventura County Line, which serves about 3,600 riders a day.There are a dozen stations on Metrolink’s Ventura County Line, which serves about 3,600 riders a day.
Crucially, the locomotive’s fuel tanks — which held 1,700 gallons of fuel — remained intact, according to police.Crucially, the locomotive’s fuel tanks — which held 1,700 gallons of fuel — remained intact, according to police.
UPDATE: Flames on the track in immediate aftermath of #Metrolink train 102 hitting vehicle http://t.co/uX36sa6ftP pic.twitter.com/XdJwr6HpUi — NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 24, 2015UPDATE: Flames on the track in immediate aftermath of #Metrolink train 102 hitting vehicle http://t.co/uX36sa6ftP pic.twitter.com/XdJwr6HpUi — NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 24, 2015
UPDATE: Flames on the track in immediate aftermath of #Metrolink train 102 hitting vehicle http://t.co/uX36sa6ftP pic.twitter.com/XdJwr6HpUiUPDATE: Flames on the track in immediate aftermath of #Metrolink train 102 hitting vehicle http://t.co/uX36sa6ftP pic.twitter.com/XdJwr6HpUi
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 24, 2015— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 24, 2015
PHOTO:#Metrolink train struck truck at crossing.Truck caught fire. Several train cars derailed http://t.co/MTisusOzgz pic.twitter.com/1kDpLVcaMp — CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) February 24, 2015PHOTO:#Metrolink train struck truck at crossing.Truck caught fire. Several train cars derailed http://t.co/MTisusOzgz pic.twitter.com/1kDpLVcaMp — CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) February 24, 2015
PHOTO:#Metrolink train struck truck at crossing.Truck caught fire. Several train cars derailed http://t.co/MTisusOzgz pic.twitter.com/1kDpLVcaMpPHOTO:#Metrolink train struck truck at crossing.Truck caught fire. Several train cars derailed http://t.co/MTisusOzgz pic.twitter.com/1kDpLVcaMp
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) February 24, 2015— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) February 24, 2015
The accident in California comes several years after the last major crash involving Metrolink, a regional commuter rail system that was created in 1992.The accident in California comes several years after the last major crash involving Metrolink, a regional commuter rail system that was created in 1992.
In 2008, a Metrolink train crashed into a freight train in Chatsworth, killing 25 people and injuring 135 others. Investigators from the NTSB later determined that the 2008 crash was caused by the Metrolink engineer failing to respond to a red signal because he was using his phone to send text messages.In 2008, a Metrolink train crashed into a freight train in Chatsworth, killing 25 people and injuring 135 others. Investigators from the NTSB later determined that the 2008 crash was caused by the Metrolink engineer failing to respond to a red signal because he was using his phone to send text messages.
Another accident involving a Metrolink train hitting a vehicle on the tracks occurred in 2005. That crash killed 11 people and injured more than 170 others.Another accident involving a Metrolink train hitting a vehicle on the tracks occurred in 2005. That crash killed 11 people and injured more than 170 others.
[This post has been updated multiple times.] [This post has been updated multiple times.]