(The following story by Putsata Reang was published in the January 24 issue of the San Jose Mercury News.)
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A Hayward woman lost both legs Wednesday after being hit by an Amtrak train in Fremont.
The woman, whose identity was not released, was walking on the tracks near an industrial area of the Niles district at J Street and Niles Boulevard when she was struck by the train about 8:10 a.m., said Fremont fire Battalion Cmdr. Tom Mulvihill. Both of her legs were severed just below the knees, Mulvihill said.
Niles merchants said they know the woman as a former Fremont resident who moved to Hayward several months ago.
The woman, who officials said is in her late 30s or early 40s, was alert and talking to paramedics as she was transported by helicopter to Stanford University Hospital, Mulvihill said. Paramedics transported her severed legs with her, Mulvihill added.
She was listed in stable condition after surgery Wednesday evening, a hospital representative said.
“We give every chance we can” for the limbs to be reattached, Mulvihill said.
Amtrak officials said the woman was not at a designated rail crossing and was trespassing.
“This is a terrible thing,” said Sarah Swain, Amtrak spokeswoman. “People need to be educated about rail safety.”
Swain said the train conductor stopped and called authorities. She said the designated train speed for the area is 35 mph.
“It’s a frightening situation,” Swain said. “They can’t swerve around things. You don’t have control.”
The woman had moved from Fremont to Hayward about nine months ago, said Jerry Munoz, owner of Munoz Liquor on Niles Boulevard. Munoz said he got to know her because she regularly went into his store for food and to cash checks.
Although some believed the woman to be homeless, Munoz said she wasn’t living on the streets and had purchased a car before moving to Hayward.
“She was a nice person. Never caused problems,” Munoz said.
In the 27 years he has operated his business there, Munoz said, he remembers at least seven other incidents in which people have been maimed or killed by a train in the neighborhood.
Many people use an open area across from his store to cross the railroad tracks to access Niles businesses.
“There’s a big clearing. People use it as a walkway all the time, even though it isn’t legal,” Munoz said.
Swain said pedestrians need to cross train tracks carefully, and only at designated pedestrian rail crossings.
Pedestrians can face fines of up to $231 for trespassing on railroad property, Swain said.