PALMDALE — An unoccupied van was struck by a Union Pacific freight train Wednesday evening in Palmdale.
The crash was reported about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, on the train tracks near Sierra Highway and Avenue P, according to Lt. Robert Farkas of the Sheriff’s Palmdale Station.
The driver of the van told authorities he ran out of gas, “unluckily for him, right on the tracks,” Farkas said.
The driver got out of the van and enlisted the help of some bystanders to try to push the van off the tracks but they weren’t able to, Farkas said.
The conductor of the train saw the van and attempted to use the emergency break but still struck the van, Farkas said.
The van sustained moderate damage and the train sustained superficial damage, Farkas added.
The tracks were reopened Thursday.
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Daniel says
What? No pictures? Why not?
Tim Scott says
Well done…but I think I see why no pictures. That looks more like “bumped” than “struck.” Kinda takes the excitement out of the story.