BRIEFLY.

Pedestrian killed by freight train

MOORPARK - A pedestrian was killed Friday night by a freight train near Moorpark Road and High Street, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department said.

Officials haven't been able to determine whether the actions of the victim, Sergio Ramirez Morales, 46, of Moorpark, were intentional or accidental.

Witnesses said the crossing arms were lowered and the engineer was blowing the locomotive's horn when Morales crossed the Union Pacific freight's path at 6:25 p.m., a sheriff's department statement said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

- Daily News

Firefighters save pinned trash man

NORTH HILLS - Fire personnel rescued a trash truck driver whose leg got pinned Saturday morning between a metal building wall and his truck's door jam, a city fire department spokesman said.

The man was operating a large commercial truck for the Athens Rubbish Service when he got out of his vehicle at the Green Arrow Nursery, 845 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. A short time later the vehicle began to move forward, he said.

``In his rush to get back behind the wheel, his right foot and his left leg, about four inches above his ankle, was pinned between the door jam and the wall of a metal building,'' Humphrey said.

The 53-year-old Los Angeles man was taken to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center where he was listed in good condition, Humphrey said.

- City News Service

Man nabbed after roommate killed

GLENDALE - A 26-year-old man was arrested in Glendale and brought to Vista, Calif., on Saturday on suspicion of murdering his 53-year-old female roommate, authorities said.

Steven Ross Westcott is suspected of assaulting the woman shortly before 6:27 p.m. Friday at the woman's home in Encinitas, San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos said.

Investigators determined Westcott had been staying at the home and sought him as a suspect, Brugos said.

Authorities in Glendale took Westcott into custody early Saturday, Brugos said.

The woman's name is being withheld pending notification of her kin, a medical examiner investigator said.

- City News Service

Five injured when car, bus collide

VAN NUYS - Four Orange Line passengers and a motorist were injured Saturday in a collision between a bus and a sedan, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said.

The woman motorist was taken to a hospital after complaining of chest discomfort, fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. The four bus passengers were taken to hospitals with what appeared to be minor injuries, Humphrey said.

The collision occurred about 4:30 p.m. on the busway at Woodman Avenue near Oxnard Avenue. The woman's BMW sedan appeared to have hit the bus on the left side near the driver's seat, Humphrey said. The bus driver was not injured.

- Daily News

Dancing students raise AIDS cash

WESTWOOD - Hundreds of UCLA students were boogieing Saturday in a dance marathon set to last 26 hours and raise at least $200,000 to fight AIDS.

Between 700 and 800 students were dancing Saturday afternoon and more were expected to join the dance party later in the night, said Jennie Herriot, one of the event coordinators. The dance was being held to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Each dancer commits to raising at least $225 for the charity to participate in the dance. Many raise more than the minimum and Herriot said so far they have raised at least $200,000.

The marathon will end at 1 p.m. today with a closing ceremony at which several HIV positive people will speak, she said.

- City News Service

Search under way for crime suspect

SHERMAN OAKS - Police assisted by dogs searched Saturday night for a Michigan robbery suspect who escaped from a vehicle driven by a private inmate-transportation company employee, officials said.

The handcuffed prisoner escaped about 8:20 p.m. after assaulting the driver, causing the car to crash on a San Diego Freeway off-ramp, Los Angeles police said. The driver was taken to a hospital.

Richard Mudica, 33, was being extradited to Michigan on multiple robbery charges, police said.

- Daily News