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Amtrak train hits parked truck
Jason Redmond / Star staff Michael Holmes, 19, of Goleta calls his parents Tuesday night as friend Caroline Iltis, 19, also of Goleta, looks on after the Amtrak train they were riding from San Diego struck a tractor-trailer outside Moorpark.
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More from Local NewsAn Amtrak passenger train headed to Goleta slammed into a tractor-trailer parked near the tracks in Moorpark on Tuesday night.
About 9:20 p.m., the train hit the cab of the truck, which was parked parallel with the tracks facing the northbound train. The train pushed the truck about 15 feet, stopping adjacent to mile marker 14 on eastbound Highway 118, between Mejico Creek and Balcom Canyon, said Brian Green of the California Highway Patrol.
There were no injuries, and passengers reported that the impact of the crash was slight, aside from the train braking quickly.
The conductor, who did not give his name, said there were no lights on the truck to alert the crew. The vehicle appeared to have been abandoned near the tracks before the crash, and police had been unable to locate its owner as of press time.
The truck was parked on the gravel slope leading up to the tracks, with its passenger side jutting into the train's path.
Nearby is an area referred to as the pit scales, where trucks are inspected along the roadside. Green said tractor-trailers often park near the road, but the truck should not have been so close to the tracks.
The 785 train left Los Angeles about 8 p.m. carrying 150 passengers and three crew members.
By 10:40 p.m., most of the passengers had been picked up by friends and family members. Amtrak was sending buses to pick up the remaining passengers.
Amtrak mechanics were en route to inspect damage to the train's brakes.
Passenger Michael Holmes, 19, of Goleta, said that he was on his way home after his classes at UC San Diego were canceled because of the wildfires and that many of the other passengers were also students. "I really didn't notice much shaking," he said. "The lights went out temporarily and then came back on, and we started slowing down."
Posted by Metalhaid on October 24, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHEN THE FROG ARE PEOPLE GOING TO STOP PARKING ON RR TRACKS!!! ARRRRRGGHH THIS MAKES ME *SO* ANGRY!!! The lives of 153 people were endangered because some knucklehead abandoned his truck-ON the TRACKS! I hope they catch this guy and take away his license!
Posted by slkrchck on October 24, 2007 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the lives weren't in too much danger. a train hits a vehicle like i stomp a soda can. since it was a tractor-trailer, maybe it was more like a large coffee can. that's why the impact wasn't too disruptive. some slept through it. either way, it was a dumb thing to do. i'm a frequent amtrak rider and i cannot believe the idiocy i've seen.
Posted by XcLarate on October 24, 2007 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Or maybe it was the other way around, and someone parked a train on the street?? Maybe the truck had to stop at the RR crossing to let the "FROG" pass......
Posted by AnnaWhaat on October 26, 2007 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well now we now the truck broke down....The CHP was on the way to the big rig near the tracks. Just hope they can find the driver who should have came forward by now !!!!!!!!! That angers me !!!!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on October 26, 2007 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
now=know
typo!
Posted by kelly13 on October 26, 2007 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Take away his license? Odds are he doesn't have one or he wouldn't run.
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