Amtrak Train Hits Truck in California; No Serious Injuries Reported

Feb. 15, 2005
An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train carrying 80 passengers from the Los Angeles area on Monday crashed into a truck hauling strawberries, spilling several gallons of diesel fuel and causing injuries to several people in vehicles involved in the crash, authorities said.
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) -- An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train carrying 80 passengers from the Los Angeles area on Monday crashed into a truck hauling strawberries, spilling several gallons of diesel fuel and causing injuries to several people in vehicles involved in the crash, authorities said.

The train crashed into a truck transporting 155 one-gallon drums of strawberries at about 4:30 p.m. The impact caused the train's engine to separate from the six cars it was pulling, said Oxnard Police Department Commander Martin Meyer.

The truck driver was not injured.

Television images by KCBS-TV showed the damaged truck and its fallen strawberry containers parked near the tracks.

Several gallons of diesel fuel were immediately cleaned up after they spilled on the tracks, authorities said.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the truck was either parked on the tracks or passing over the tracks when it was struck by the train.

``As the train approached, this vehicle was in the path of the train,'' he said, noting Amtrak was still investigating the crash.

Magliari disputed reports by Oxnard authorities that the train engine had unhooked upon impact.

Five vehicles were involved in the crash.

Four people on board the train had minor body pain but refused treatment, Meyer said. Two others in two separate vehicles had body pain, including one person with neck and back pain who was transported to the hospital.

Amtrak chartered two buses to transport passengers to their destination, Magliari said.

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