BRIEFLY : HORSE TURNED LOOSE IN FREEWAY COLLISION.

EAGLE ROCK - A vehicle pulling a horse trailer collided with another vehicle on a freeway in Eagle Rock on Sunday night, breaking open the trailer and releasing a horse onto the roadway in heavy traffic, a CHP officer said.

The collision happened about 8:45 p.m. on the eastbound Ventura Freeway near Eagle Rock Reservoir, said California Highway Patrol Officer Karen Faciane.

No injuries were reported.

- City News Service

Homicide suspect arrested at border

VAN NUYS - A Camarillo man wanted in connection with the December stabbing death of a Sherman Oaks woman was arrested Sunday while trying to cross into the United States from Mexico, a police detective said.

Border Patrol agents stopped Luis Phillip Ponce, 24, during a routine check at the crossing in Tijuana, said Los Angeles police Detective Jim Rahm.

Ponce was wanted for killing Eva Marie Trachsel-Gooch, 34, whose body was found in her apartment on Dec. 9, Rahm said.

Ponce was booked at the Van Nuys jail on murder charges and is expected to be arraigned today.

- City News Service

Train strikes man, kills him instantly

OXNARD - A 26-year-old man trying to encourage others to go to church was fatally struck by an Amtrak passenger train Sunday morning, police said.

Manuel M. Lopez III was riding with another man in a car near Oxnard Boulevard and Cooper Street. Lopez, a member of Victory Outreach Church, got out of the car at about 7:30 a.m. to talk to acquaintances, said Oxnard Police Sgt. Bob Thomas.

``He was apparently talking to people, trying to get them to go to church,'' Thomas said. ``For unknown reasons, he didn't see or hear the train, and he was struck and killed by the train.''

Authorities said Lopez died instantly after being hit by the southbound Amtrak train in the 100 block of Oxnard Boulevard.