LANCASTER – A Metrolink train and a vehicle collided Monday morning in Lancaster, leaving one person in the vehicle injured, authorities said.
Train Number 212 was en route from Lancaster to Los Angeles when it struck the vehicle near Columbia Way and North Sierra Highway, according to Gina Mack of Metrolink. No injuries were reported on the train.
The train stopped and the tracks were closed. Arrangements were being made to accommodate the rail passengers, Mack said. It was not immediately clear what led to the collision.
Paramedics were sent to Columbia Way and North Sierra Highway around 9:20 a.m. to take the injured person to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. An update on the victim’s condition was not immediately available Monday morning.
As of 9:30 a.m., Sierra Highway was closed in all directions at the intersection of Avenue M; and Avenue M was closed from Sierra Highway to Division Street, according to an advisory from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.
“We ask that you avoid the area and use an alternate route until the area is cleared,” the advisory stated.
Sheriff’s officials said alternate routes would include 10th Street West or Challenger Way, and encouraged traffic to be diverted north of Avenue L and south of Avenue N to avoid traffic delays and congestion.
Jody says
When I lived in KS the trains all went down a bridge over the traffic. I wish they did that here.
Jody says
That’s a Metrolink? I thought that was a cargo train. Aren’t the Metrolink’s those blue ones?
Tim Scott says
Yes.
From reading some other stuff the person that was hit “beat” the freight train by crossing the first track, but because of the backup from the traffic light they were stopped with the back of their car still on the second track…which also had a train coming.
scax686 says
Precisely. That is a freight train. The Metrolink train that hit the car was obviously removed from that area. The picture that you see on the news article was probably taken later on, a while after the accident. All freight and passenger train traffic will be stopped or delayed at the site of an accident. (explaining the picture of the stopped freight train at the railroad crossing where the accident happened) The same way you have to slow down on the freeway when there is an accident. Or maybe the Antelope Valley Times thought that the freight train was a Metrolink train. Which I don’t think is true. (Yes I am a railfan)
Jim Scimonetti says
Where is the rest of this story? No follow up? Did the person live through this? Who was it? Where were they from?
Jody says
They were injured, apparently they’ll be okay thank god.
My2Cents says
That turn onto Sierra is always backed up, someone thought they could run it and were tired of waiting. They need to make that a 2 lane turn and people need to have some common sense and patience.
Train Conductor says
Someone tried to outrun the train.
Exav says
Trains are about 10 feet wide, only go in 2 set directions, come at predictable intervals, have flashing lights and barriers on both sides…and people still manage to get hit.
America's Most Avid Ammosexual says
And we share the road with them! The proliferation of drivers without licenses, insurance, training or common sense should terrify us all.
Stinger says
And those pale in comparison to the idiots out there that actually have a license, but forgot everything in the drivers’ handbook.
Just one humble request, people – Our species is not known for its telepathic or psychic predictive abilities, so we don’t know what you are planning to do UNTIL you USE your f-ing TURN SIGNALS!
Tim Scott says
I don’t know what happened here, but the really amazing thing to me is how many times “train, vehicle collide” turns out to be a car running into the side of a train.
FWB says
10ft wide but several hundred feet long.
Oops