TRUCKER'S FATAL BRUSH WITH TRAIN BAFFLES SON.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - Jacek Wysocki's son spent Tuesday morning along the railroad tracks searching for answers, wondering how his father could have ignored lowered crossing gates and flashing signals that a train was coming.

Tomasz Wysocki, 34, and his wife, Iwona, visited the scene of the deadly Metrolink crash and paused briefly within the intersection of Buena Vista Street and San Fernando Boulevard, where his father lost his life Monday in the fiery crash with a commuter train.

Both said Jacek Wysocki was a veteran truck driver, exceptionally conscientious, who once worked as a truck-driving instructor. The 63- year-old Van Nuys resident worked as a delivery man for the nearby movie studios.

``Everyone is saying he was trying to beat the train, but that is not right,'' said his daughter-in-law. ``He was such a strict driver. He would correct other people's mistakes driving.''

Iwona Wysocki said her father-in-law must have been confused by the intersection, which is wide between the crossing gates. She also wondered whether he suffered a stroke or other sudden illness.

``Maybe he was unconscious (in the truck) on the tracks,'' Iwona Wysocki said. ``He must have been. There is no way he would do something dangerous.''

Neighbors of Jacek Wysocki remembered him as a generous man, shy around strangers but the life of the party among friends. News of his death shocked the neighbors in a quiet Van Nuys area where he had lived with his son, daughter-in-law and 5-year-old granddaughter.

Born in Poland, where he had trained to become an Olympic swimmer, Wysocki settled in the United States in the 1970s.

His dream was to work in Hollywood, Iwona Wysocki said, and so he became a deliveryman for movie studios.

Friends said he loved Christmas and went out of his way to buy extra food to offer to anyone who visited his home.

``It was as if he knew that would be his last good supper with family,'' said family friend Zora Vali-Bayat. ``He really helped anyone he could.''

Police said Wysocki caused the collision Monday when a Metrolink train slammed into his truck and 32 passengers were injured. Four of the injured remained in serious condition Tuesday. One of them, Jennifer Kilpatrick, a 48-year-old Newhall resident, underwent surgery at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, a hospital spokesman said.

Wysocki was driving a Ford F-350 truck that exploded and burned as it was dragged 1,000 feet, scattering debris onto the nearby Golden State Freeway.

Four train cars were derailed. Two of them tipped over.

The truck turned onto the track in front of the train about 9:30 a.m. despite lowered crossing gates and flashing signals, police said. According to witness accounts, Wysocki made a left turn across the tracks from San Fernando to Buena Vista and either tried to beat the train or got caught between the gates.

The truck was owned by Nawolo Inc. of El Segundo where officials would not comment Tuesday.

Los Angeles County coroner's officials were continuing an investigation into the cause of death, saying a more thorough examination would begin today.

Metrolink officials said information from the train's ``black box'' - which records speed, braking capacity, horn use and other data - had not yet been analyzed.

Work crews continued to clean up the scene, lifting the derailed train cars with cranes and replacing the charred railroad tracks, said MTA spokeswoman Sharon Gavin.

Gavin said rail travel from the Antelope Valley into Los Angeles would continue, though commuter trains would be delayed up to 30 minutes.

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) JACEK WYSOCKI

(2 -- 3) Workers, far left, help direct removal on Tuesday of one of the rail cars damaged Monday when a Metrolink train carrying morning commuters smashed into a truck and derailed in Burbank. The truck driver died and 32 train passengers were injured.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer