6 hurt as LA commuter train, car collide

[Trainspotter]

6 hurt as LA commuter train, car collide

 

The Associated Press

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A sport utility vehicle broadsided an MTA commuter train during the Friday morning rush hour, causing a fire and injuring six people in the second Gold Line crash in two weeks, authorities said.

 

The Metro Gold Line train was heading from downtown Los Angeles north to Pasadena when it was struck shortly after 7 a.m. in the Mount Washington area, said David Sotero, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

 

Full story: NJ.COM - September 22, 2007

[Pablo M 201]

Uh oh, definately a red flag went up for LAMTA. Is it me, or has things like this have been happening more lately than ever. Its like you hear a different incident every few days to a week now.

[salaamallah]

6 hurt as LA commuter train, car collide lacmta goldline light rail

this happened in the most open area of the light rail system on the

newest rail system started in 2003 in the highland park section of

los angeles in between ( highland park station) and the

( southwest museumm station ) at avenue 50

i still did not get the car nummber in this crash

last one was car 248

[NJTransitFan]

Holy moses! Look at that devastation from a light rail train.

[Harry]

Holy moses! Look at that devastation from a light rail train.

 

Wow! I can't believe that light rail train did all that damage. Trains are no joke no matter what size or shape they are.

[sebbieprops]

Uh oh, definately a red flag went up for LAMTA. Is it me, or has things like this have been happening more lately than ever. Its like you hear a different incident every few days to a week now.

 

You're absolutely right. I don't know if it's just a coincidence or not anymore.

[salaamallah]

6 hurt as LA commuter train, car collide lacmta gold line RESPONSE

 

at the point of impact the TWC begins which means the train goes

is allowed to power up more speed on its way to mission station

add that to the SUV gasoline tanks and you have to have a

explosion and big fire

people in the neighborhood cut the woman fromm the buring crushed

vehicle and another one put the fire out with a garden hose

he said on the TV news i am not a hero

these light rail vehicles are still trains and are no joke

operation lifesaver should be required for all drivers liscenses

[salaamallah]

rain tragedy averted

Only minor injuries when car strikes Gold Line trai

Pasadena Star-News / Los Angeles Newspaper Group

09/22/2007 HIGHLAND PARK - LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

Less than a month after and only five blocks from a

similar incident, a Metro Gold Line train and a vehicle collided at a rail

crossing Friday morning, injuring six people but none of them seriously,

officials said.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Luis Inzunza said MTA

investigators believe the driver of a small-sized sport utility vehicle

might have crashed through the lowered rail guards at the crossing at

Avenue 50 and Marmion Way just after 7 a.m. before colliding with the

front of the southbound train.

"The car was coming east and the barriers were down," Inzunza said, adding

that the barriers were operating at the time.

A full investigation will determine the exact cause of the crash, he

added.

The collision triggered a fire, but firefighters contained the flames to

the front portion of the train, officials said.

The crash was only the second serious collision on the 13.7-mile Gold Line

since the light rail service began ferrying riders to and from Pasadena to

Union Station in downtown Los Angeles in 2003, Inzunza said.

On Sept. 11 on Avenue 55 and Marmion Way, just five blocks from Friday's

collision, a pickup truck collided with a Gold Line train, injuring seven

people, including the truck's driver, but none of the injuries were

life-threatening, emergency officials said.

Officials Friday were lauding a passerby who saw the collision and rushed

to the scene to help.

"The person today that needs the recognition is that gentleman that

actually was driving down Avenue 51, (who) came upon the scene of the

accident (and) saw people running toward the scene," Los Angeles police

Detective Michael Kaden told reporters at the scene.

"He then drove his car directly up next to the side of the train, where he

stopped, couldn't believe that anybody wasn't helping her - because she

was yelling at people to help her - and took the action: jumped the fence,

and risked his own life to be able to save this lady today," Kaden said.

"He's the hero," he said. "He'll have a nice story to be able to tell his

children and his grandchildren. And I'll do what I can with the City

Council's office, to be able to get some sort of citizen's reward for him.

That's the least that I can do."

The name of that driver was not immediately released.

But a witness, Eric Ramirez, told reporters he and several other people

rushed to the scene and used a knife to cut off the woman's seat belt and

pull her from the mangled SUV.

Marsha Depaz, who was walking past the intersection when the accident

happened, said she stood stunned and watched as the train dragged the SUV

for several yards. After the collision the car burst into flames, she

said.

"The car was coming really fast and broke through (the crossing arm)

before the train hit it," she said.

Another witness, Michelle Castillo, said she grabbed a knife and handed it

to a man, who ended up using it to cut the driver's seat belt.

"The car was up in flames and I just saw her arm," Castillo said.

Los Angeles City Fire Capt. Tina Haro said several passengers jumped from

the train after the car caught fire, which resulted in some injuries.

All of the injured were taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital and to

Glendale Adventist Medical Center.

Gold Line commuters were taken by buses from the scene of the collision.

The buses dropped passengers at the next-nearest train stop, Inzunza said.

 

"They're doing an OK job," said Gold Line rider Steve Garcia, who took a

bus around the accident. "It's better than walking to the next stop."

Even with two accidents in two weeks, Inzunza said, the Gold Line is among

the MTA's safest rail lines.

"We've always advocated safety. We want people to be careful," he said.

"But in the end, people are the ones who need to be safe around the

trains."

Depaz, who occasionally takes the Gold Line, said she might be a bit

nervous the next time she boards one.

"It's scary, because my kids ride the train with me," she said.