(The following appeared on the San Gabriel Valley Tribune website on April 19, 2010.)
EL MONTE, Calif. — A Union Pacific freight train hit a car that was driving on the tracks on Sunday.
The car became stuck in the gravel around 10:30 p.m. near the 3200 block of Durfee Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Frederick Stowers said.
The passengers and driver got out of the car before the train hit it, Stowers said.
No one was injured in the crash, but officials closed the tracks as they worked to clear wreckage, Stowers said.
Police did not cite the driver, but Union Pacific could seek to recoup monetary damages for the railway closure, Union Pacific Police Officer Jorge Villaescusa said.
Officials could not immediately say why the car was driving on the tracks.