(The following story by Tom Lochner appeared on the Contra Costa Times website on April 9.)
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The motorcyclist who was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Richmond on Sunday apparently was doing stunts with another motorcyclist, said a spokesman for Union Pacific railroad, which owns the right-of-way.
The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified the dead motorcyclist Monday as Ian Blanchard, 25, of San Pablo. The office would not disclose whether Campbell lived in the city of San Pablo or one of several nearby unincorporated areas that have San Pablo postal addresses.
“Sadly, there were two people riding on their dirt bikes, I believe jumping over the railroad tracks,” said Joe Arbona, the UP spokesman. “Unfortunately, as a result, one of them was struck by an Amtrak train.
“We send our thoughts and prayers to the family and certainly recommend people to never play on railroad tracks or do those types of things.”
The accident occurred at the end of Morton Avenue at the western edge of Richmond’s Parchester Village neighborhood around 3:55 p.m. Sunday. Morton Avenue dead-ends at the Union Pacific railroad right-of way. There is no crossing at the site and no street on the other side of the tracks. There is no fence or wall at Morton Avenue, said Richmond Police Lt. Arnold Threets.
Dirt bike enthusiasts frequent gravel strips along the Union Pacific right-of-way in Northwest Contra Costa County. The collision occurred about three miles north of the Richmond Amtrak station and a half-mile south of the parking lot of Point Pinole Regional