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UPDATED: Palmdale bicyclist hit, killed by Metrolink train

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The incident occurred Saturday night on Palmdale Boulevard and Sierra Highway. (Photos by LUIS MEZA)
The incident occurred Saturday night on Palmdale Boulevard and Sierra Highway. (Photos by LUIS MEZA)

PALMDALE – The 22-year-old bicyclist struck and killed by a Metrolink train Saturday night has been identified as Manuel Correa, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

The incident was reported around 7 p.m., Saturday (10/19) at the Palmdale Boulevard crossing, near Sierra Highway, authorities said.

Correa was riding with a group of friends at the time of the incident, witnesses said.
Correa was riding with a group of friends at the time of the incident, witnesses said. (LUIS MEZA)

Witnesses at the scene said Correa was riding with a group of friends, when he pedaled around the crossing gates and was struck by a northbound train.

“What we had here is a Metrolink train headed to the Lancaster station, and we had a young man that tried to beat the train on his bicycle and couldn’t quite make it,” said Detective Ron Duval of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The No. 269 train was carrying more than 250 passengers and was on its way to Lancaster, Metrolink officials said. No one aboard the train was injured.

The collision remains under investigation, and no further details on the incident was available.

Manuel Correa
Manuel Correa

UPDATED 10/21/13: Loved ones have created an online fundraiser to help cover funeral costs for Manuel Correa, whom they said was a father, son and brother.

“He was everything to all of us and his family is in dire needs to give him the services he deserves…” a message on the page states.

To view the memorial page or to make a donation, visit http://www.gofundme.com/4w7mco. 

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Filed Under: Palmdale

41 comments for "UPDATED: Palmdale bicyclist hit, killed by Metrolink train"

  1. hijo te voy a extranhar, yo se que ahora te encuentras en un mejor lugar con Dios nuestro senhor y todos sus angeles, algun dia nos volveremos a ver, te ama tu tio alph!!!

  3. We’ve all made mistakes. We learn from those mistakes. Our fear as parents is that our kids are afforded the opportunity to learn from mistakes. In this circumstance the mistake was fatal. Others will see this and learn from his mistake. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Hopefully the family can take some solace in our prayers.

    • Well said, C.Bronson. No matter how much parents “warn” their children they need to explore the world their own way and in ways that life will make sense to each individual. Parent, although, need to share their mistakes to their kids too- at an appropriate time and age… Prayers to the family’s loss and the BEAUTIFUL little girl who will grow up with only memories and pictures of her father.

  5. I think we have established what he did wasn’t right but you guys should also take into consideration what his family’s going through I’m more then 100% positive if you had lost someone that meant allot to you you wouldn’t be saying that. My teacher once told me if “you don’t have nothing nice to say don’t say it at all” I also lost two of my friends in those Dixie bikes one on Palmdale blvd and 35th and one in front of Dominic Missouri park what we have here is unsafe bikes I mean come on I know we aren’t that blind these bikes have taken loved ones from us the question now is are we gonna band these fixie bikes or what’s the next step before this happens to another family we should take action and make this known that these BIKES arent safe at all they just keep going forward and don’t stop they have no breaks at all. Next time you guys have a chance or at a walmart or whatever store it may be go to the bike section and check these fixies out these aren’t safe at all. Someone needs to address this issue before it happens again. God Bless -Anthony Salgado

  6. For the family I’m so so sorry for the loss. I could not even imagine what your going throw. I will be praying for your whole family. Don’t pay attention to such negative people. Focus on the great memories he made with friends and family. Who cares what a punch of strangers think. God Bless the whole family. R I P.

  7. Dude, seriously.
    I am fully aware that he made a stupid choice, everyone knows that he made a horrible decision. I am not arguing that at all. MY POINT is that there is NO NEED for calling him names such as hmmm? what did you call him again “dumy”? It is not necessary and inappropriate. Yes, I did know him, he was loved and will be missed. These people are not telling the truth! They are judging him without even knowing him, and that is a shame.

  8. Maybe this is what stopped us from getting on the train that night, bc we were almost going to be using the train at that time.. Thank You Lord for protecting us.. Amen

    • So the Lord protected you from a minor inconvenience of being late?
      Nothing happened to the train or passengers.

      • Yes, Thank God no one else got hit or hurt that day. You don’t know my story of what we went through that day, and Im just saying Thank God we didn’t have to go through this too, bc we had some young kids with us and it could of caused another whole problem for them, and Im just thankful that they didn’t have to endure that too, that day.. okay, if I could of stopped this kid from getting hit, I would have.

    • he didn’t protect you. that train hitting that bicyclist is equivalent to a bug hitting your windshield as you drive your car around town. so if when the bug gets hit by your car it doesn’t hurt anyone in your car and doesn’t effect your driving then the passengers on the train didn’t feel anything either.

      ^
      that statement doesn’t rule out that the bicyclist getting hit by the train is a tragedy, which it is. hopefully nobody else was hurt.

  9. Im wondering what type of bicycle he was riding. Was it the popular Fixie without brakes? Like the one involved in last weeks accident where the young man hit the Jeep?

      • Does it really matter what he was riding? Is that all you really care about! He died and all you care about is what bike he was riding wow pathetic .

        • It’s a valid discussion point, and maybe can prevent someone else from being hurt. Last week’s death caused a talk with me and my son, who rides a fixie. Turns out it is very popular (and unsafe) to remove the brakes. I had no idea. He promised to keep his on. Between last week’s tragedy, and this tragedy, I am sure my son and nephews will not make the choice to remove the safety feature from their bikes. The talking points can inform and ultimately save a life.

  10. There have been to many death’s from the train over the years, its time with the population increasing and traffic in the area getting more congested that we plan and put this train under the roads in a trench thru AV or it will get worse and more dangerous. How long does it take for our local leaders to act.
    Prayers go out to the family sorry for your loss.

    • @ Jason

      Wrong. This is Darwin’s Law in full effect.

      Gates were down, person tried to ride his bike across the track in an attempt to beat the train. Poor decision. He paid the ultimate, tragic price for his very poor decision.

      Tragic indeed.

      But most certainly not evidence that we need to “put this train under the roads in a trench thru AV…”

      • My personal experience me an my mother came across those same tracks at Palmdale Blvd 25 years ago and the gates were broken and did not come down and we came feet from death~ I’ll never forget it!!!!

        Like Palmdale, Riverside was in the same boat and now they are constructing a train trench creating thouands of local construction jobs that will relieve traffic congestion and save lives like Reno and hundreds of other cities have. AV will have a million people living here by 2035. 25 years ago 100,000 now 450,000. Need Leadership Vision!!!!

          • Ignoring this tragedy, it isnt. When a cargo train pass PMD boulevard comes to a stop. For traffic reasons it should go under.

        • That intersection is directly next to City Hall. Don’t expect big construction to occur anytime soon.

          • The Reno project goes right thru downtown known as the “Biggest little City in the World.” It can happen go vist Reno.

  11. If the train snuck up on the guy or came out of nowhere then I’d have some sympathy for him but he had complete disregard for his own life and his family. The original post wasn’t a literal question but just o a way of saying people don’t think before they act anymore. He has paid the price for his mistake but now his family has to pay the price the rest of their lives. A little logical thinking could have prevented all this. Btw this is a public forum for people to express their opinions. It’s not like I’m posting this on the family’s facebook page so excuse me if I don’t sugarcoat everything

    • There are a lot of people mourning, there is no need to judge and be negative, yes we ALL know what he did was stupid, but there is no need for people like you, who always judge and classify him. His death does not define him, his legacy does, so just stop.

    • STFU!! you inconsiderate moron! If this happened to anyone you know you wouldn’t be saying that! If it was you in his shoes what would you expect people to say! Just Be quiet! A life was lost! His daughter will be without a father for the rest of her life be considerate for the Dead!

  13. so sad drove by there i guess right after it happened praying for the family of this young man who lost his life

  14. I just do not understand the lack of judgement. It’s not like trains are stealth and come out of nowhere.

  15. Sometimes mistakes cost great consequences and not everyone is aware of the cost until it’s to late, not because they are born without brains. Folks who express negativity during times like this obviously are the ones with no brains. Take into consideration that there are real folks behind these terrible stories and real families that are suffering the loss.
    Please to this family who is suffering the loss of this good soul, may you find the strength to get through these terrible trying times. RIP to this young man…..

  16. This is a horrible way to go, he was a good person with a good soul. He had a family and a daughter. [removed]

    • I know the mother of his daughter and her mother the lack of sensitivity and respect is sick, this is a sad day and not the time to judge and disrespect the memory.

        • I still have not figured out why friends and family read the comments of an article…. And then get mad at what they read…. Don’t read them….. You have no control over what others say and it will just upset you more…. As for his bad decision…. We have all made them…. It is just when it is deadly do we hear about it…. If he would have not been hit…. Three years this would have been one of those ” remember when” crazy stories that we all have…. It is tragic and I hope every the best to get through this…..