AMTRAK TRAIN HITS TRACTOR FIERY COLLISION KILLS FARM WORKER, INJURES 12 PASSENGERS.Byline: Sabrina Decker and Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer An Amtrak Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corp., authorized to operate virtually all intercity passenger railroad routes in the United States. Amtrak was created by Congress in 1970 in response to more than two decades of continuous operating deficits by privately run train heading north to Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. collided with a tractor Friday afternoon, leaving the farm vehicle's 65-year-old driver dead, injuring 12 passengers and igniting a fire that filled the front cars with smoke, authorities and passengers said. The Pacific Surfliner The Pacific Surfliner is a 350-mile (563 km) Amtrak passenger train route serving communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. It is the second-busiest rail route in the Amtrak system after the Northeast Corridor. slammed into the tractor at the unguarded crossing shortly after 2 p.m., pushing it 400 feet on the track along Fifth Street between Los Posas and Pleasant Valley roads, authorities said. At least 125 passengers were on board. ``It felt like an earthquake,'' said Darlene Hill, who was traveling in the second railroad railroad or railway, form of transportation most commonly consisting of steel rails, called tracks, on which freight cars, passenger cars, and other rolling stock are drawn by one locomotive or more. car and exited with her two small boys. ``It was too much smoke, so I went the other way.'' Ranch worker Danny Lazarich said he was in the area with two other men when he heard the collision. ``We heard the explosion and the crash and I ran out and called 911,'' Lazarich said. ``I just started pulling people off the train.'' Traffic in the agricultural area, just a few miles south of the Camarillo outlet stores An outlet store or factory outlet is a retail store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public through their own branded stores. The stores can be can be brick and mortar or online. , was tied up on the busy shopping day as streets were shut down and cars diverted, authorities said. Passengers aboard the train from San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. were put on buses to Oxnard's transportation center, where they were to board another train to finish the journey, officials said. The farm worker was not identified late Friday. Investigators were expected to be on the scene into the evening Friday. An Amtrak spokesman did not return calls. Authorities said the northbound north·bound adj. Going toward the north. northbound Adjective going towards the north Adj. 1. train was being pushed from the rear as though it was traveling backward, as is often done. The tractor was pulling a piece of farm equipment used to ready soil for planting. A fire erupted and the train pushed the vehicle up the track, said Ventura County Fire Department Not to be confused with Ventura Fire Department. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for six other cities within the county. spokesman Joe Luna. ``The driver, unfortunately, did not survive the impact or the fire,'' Luna said. Ranch workers said the area is not an official crossing - authorities said it has no crossing arms or lights - but the dirt path is often used by farm workers driving equipment in the area. Luna said the area connects one field to another. Five passengers were taken to local hospitals for treatment, and seven others who complained of injuries were looked at by paramedics but declined further treatment, Luna said. Passengers were shaken up by the incident. ``I was in the cafeteria cafeteria: see restaurant. standing up there, and there was a sudden stop, I didn't know it hit something,'' said Darlene Hill, who was returning to Santa Barbara after spending the holiday in Anaheim Hills. ``I was in the fourth car, the car was filled up with smoke. It was so intense,'' said Liz Hixson, who was returning to Santa Barbara from having spent the holiday in San Diego, and said she just wanted to get home. CAPTION(S): 2 maps Map: (1) Amtrak passenger train crashes into tractor (2) Detail Area |
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