(By Raja Abdulrahim for the LA Times)
A Metrolink commuter train crashed into a truck in Oxnard early this morning, moments after firefighters had removed the driver from the crippled vehicle, which was involved in an earlier accident and stuck on the tracks. No one on the train was hurt.
Two firefighters were treating the driver of the truck and holding his head to prevent spinal injury when the railroad crossing gates suddenly swung down, indicating the approaching train, said Deborah O’Malley, a fire department spokeswoman.
The firefighters quickly picked up the man and moved him away from the tracks “literally seconds before the train hit the truck,” O’Malia said. “All three of them could have easily lost their lives.”
O’Malia said firefighters followed standard procedure and notified the dispatch center to call railroad officials and inform them that that they were on the tracks. The accident occurred shortly before 6 a.m.
It is not clear if anyone from the railroad was reached. Although it was a Metrolink train involved in the accident, that stretch of track is controlled by Union Pacific.
“I don’t know why we couldn’t get hold of them,” said Sgt. Ron Whitney. “We tried to get a hold of them, but for some reason we couldn’t.”
Metrolink spokesman Francisco Oaxaca said his dispatch center was not called. A Union Pacific spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Two people suffered minor injuries in the earlier accident.