Man Is Killed by MTA Blue Line Train in South L.A.
Los Angeles Times
November 26, 2004
A man was killed Thursday by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line train in South Los Angeles, a sheriff's deputy said.
The man was struck about 3 p.m. on tracks near East Florence and Graham avenues, according to Deputy Tania Plunkett.
Sheriff's homicide detectives were investigating the death, Plunkett said. She said the section of light-rail line between Los Angeles and Long Beach was closed after the incident.
The man, whose identity was withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A person waiting near the Florence station platform fainted and was taken to a hospital after seeing the man struck, Plunkett said.
Man Struck, Killed By Train In Los Angeles
Associated Press
November 25, 2004
A man was struck and killed by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority train Thursday, authorities said.
Nobody on the train was hurt.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene after the 3 p.m. accident, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Carlos Lopez said.
His identity was not immediately released.
The train, carrying 400 passengers from downtown to Long Beach, was delayed for about 30 minutes, MTA spokesman Jose Ubaldo said.
The accident was under investigation.
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Blue Line Kills Woman Pushing Shopping Cart
Pedestrian Is Killed by Train
Los Angeles Times
By Zeke Minaya
September 2, 2004
A 46-year-old woman pushing a cart of empty bottles and cans was struck and killed Wednesday by a Long Beach-bound Blue Line train, authorities said.
The accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. as the train approached the Florence station on Graham Avenue, said Jose Ubaldo, a spokesman for the MTA.
All the warning systems indicating an approaching train — including blowing whistles and flashing lights — were working, Ubaldo said.
With a rush-hour crowd gathering at the station, the woman joined a group of people, including her companion, in racing across the tracks in front of the oncoming train, Ubaldo said.
She was struck near the entrance of the platform and died at the scene, Ubaldo said. "She almost made it," Ubaldo said.
Authorities did not release the name of the victim, a transient, pending notification of relatives.
The MTA and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department have opened investigations. Service to the station was halted for 30 to 45 minutes, Ubaldo said. The 22-mile Blue Line runs from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles.
Including Wednesday's fatality, more than 22 occupants of vehicles and more than 40 pedestrians have been killed along the Blue Line since it began operating in 1990, making it the deadliest of the MTA's four rail routes. The commuter trains sometimes move at up to 55 mph.
Los Angeles Times
By Zeke Minaya
September 2, 2004
A 46-year-old woman pushing a cart of empty bottles and cans was struck and killed Wednesday by a Long Beach-bound Blue Line train, authorities said.
The accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. as the train approached the Florence station on Graham Avenue, said Jose Ubaldo, a spokesman for the MTA.
All the warning systems indicating an approaching train — including blowing whistles and flashing lights — were working, Ubaldo said.
With a rush-hour crowd gathering at the station, the woman joined a group of people, including her companion, in racing across the tracks in front of the oncoming train, Ubaldo said.
She was struck near the entrance of the platform and died at the scene, Ubaldo said. "She almost made it," Ubaldo said.
Authorities did not release the name of the victim, a transient, pending notification of relatives.
The MTA and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department have opened investigations. Service to the station was halted for 30 to 45 minutes, Ubaldo said. The 22-mile Blue Line runs from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles.
Including Wednesday's fatality, more than 22 occupants of vehicles and more than 40 pedestrians have been killed along the Blue Line since it began operating in 1990, making it the deadliest of the MTA's four rail routes. The commuter trains sometimes move at up to 55 mph.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Gold Line Takes Child's Limb because MTA was Too Cheap to Build a Fence
Freeway wreck involving commuter train kills three in Pasadena
Associated Press
August 12, 2004
PASADENA, Calif. - An automobile rolled over on a freeway Thursday, killing three people and injuring three others, including a boy who was hurled onto adjacent commuter rail tracks where a train severed one of his legs, authorities said.
The boy was in critical condition and two other surviving victims had major head injuries and broken bones, said Lisa Derdarian of the Pasadena Fire Department. Two others were hospitalized for emotional distress, she added. The identities of the victims were not immediately released.
The accident occurred about 10:10 a.m. on the Foothill Freeway. The Metro Gold Line light rail track runs down the median, separated from the east- and westbound lanes of the freeway by fences.
Two people died at the scene and a third was pronounced dead at a hospital, Derdarian said. No one on the train was hurt but service to and from the Pasadena terminal station was halted for about an hour, said Marc Littman, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Passengers had to use a station about a mile away, he said.
Pasadena is 16 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Associated Press
August 12, 2004
PASADENA, Calif. - An automobile rolled over on a freeway Thursday, killing three people and injuring three others, including a boy who was hurled onto adjacent commuter rail tracks where a train severed one of his legs, authorities said.
The boy was in critical condition and two other surviving victims had major head injuries and broken bones, said Lisa Derdarian of the Pasadena Fire Department. Two others were hospitalized for emotional distress, she added. The identities of the victims were not immediately released.
The accident occurred about 10:10 a.m. on the Foothill Freeway. The Metro Gold Line light rail track runs down the median, separated from the east- and westbound lanes of the freeway by fences.
Two people died at the scene and a third was pronounced dead at a hospital, Derdarian said. No one on the train was hurt but service to and from the Pasadena terminal station was halted for about an hour, said Marc Littman, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Passengers had to use a station about a mile away, he said.
Pasadena is 16 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Monday, March 1, 2004
Blue Line Kills Motorist in Watts and Injures 14
MTA Train Hits Car, Killing Woman
Los Angeles Times
By Kevin Pang and Arlene Martinez
March 02, 2004
A motorist turned into the path of an MTA Blue Line train at a Watts intersection Monday, killing one of the car’s occupants and injuring 14 people.
The most seriously injured were traveling in the 2003 Honda Civic, including the 45-year-old driver, who was listed in critical condition at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. A boy in the back seat sustained minor injuries and was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Nine passengers aboard the train were sent to nearby hospitals for minor neck and back injuries. Three others on the train were treated at the scene. Sara Silvia Tovar, 48, was pronounced dead at the accident site.
Authorities said the car attempted to turn left onto southbound Wilmington Avenue from Willowbrook Avenue about 8 a.m. when the train, traveling about 50 mph, struck the passenger side of the vehicle.
The car then hit an MTA power pole, knocking down one of its support beams.
The car was pushed alongside the rails until it came to rest next to the train, about 200 feet from the site of the collision.
Los Angeles police spokesman Capt. Terry Hara said investigators believe the motorist was at fault because left turns are not allowed onto Wilmington Avenue from Willowbrook Avenue.
“The car wasn’t on the correct side of the street, it was in the middle,” Hara said.
Residents say drivers – as well as pedestrians – are careless while crossing the tracks.
“I’ve seen it so many times
“Once the guard rails come down [drivers] don’t know whether to go back or front.”
Tigerino and other witnesses said he heard the warning sounds of the crossing gate lowering and moments later heard a loud impact.
The 22-mile Blue Line runs from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles.
Including Monday’s fatality, 22 occupants of vehicles and 43 pedestrians have been killed along the Blue Line since it began operating in 1990, making it the deadliest of the MTA’s four rail routes.
Ten accidents have occurred at the Wilmington intersection alone, including five fatalities, said Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Rick Jager.
“The corridor has been particularly difficult for us. There are a lot of different exits and intersections,” Jager said. “We’ve worked with the city to erect more signage.”
Still, there are several other intersections along the route that have recorded significantly more accidents than the Wilmington intersection, including Venice Boulevard with 30 vehicular accidents, San Pedro Street with 23 accidents and 20th Street in Long Beach with 20 accidents.
Before 1990, slow-moving freight trains used the tracks, Jager said, and people may not realize that the Blue Line trains are moving up to 55 mph.
This is the third accident on the Blue Line this year, but the first involving a fatality.
The accident caused disruptions to MTA Blue Line service between the 103rd Street and Imperial/Wilmington stations during the busy Monday morning period. Jager said passengers experienced 30-minute delays when they were bused around the accident scene and transferred to another train.
Los Angeles Times
By Kevin Pang and Arlene Martinez
March 02, 2004
A motorist turned into the path of an MTA Blue Line train at a Watts intersection Monday, killing one of the car’s occupants and injuring 14 people.
The most seriously injured were traveling in the 2003 Honda Civic, including the 45-year-old driver, who was listed in critical condition at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. A boy in the back seat sustained minor injuries and was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Nine passengers aboard the train were sent to nearby hospitals for minor neck and back injuries. Three others on the train were treated at the scene. Sara Silvia Tovar, 48, was pronounced dead at the accident site.
Authorities said the car attempted to turn left onto southbound Wilmington Avenue from Willowbrook Avenue about 8 a.m. when the train, traveling about 50 mph, struck the passenger side of the vehicle.
The car then hit an MTA power pole, knocking down one of its support beams.
The car was pushed alongside the rails until it came to rest next to the train, about 200 feet from the site of the collision.
Los Angeles police spokesman Capt. Terry Hara said investigators believe the motorist was at fault because left turns are not allowed onto Wilmington Avenue from Willowbrook Avenue.
“The car wasn’t on the correct side of the street, it was in the middle,” Hara said.
Residents say drivers – as well as pedestrians – are careless while crossing the tracks.
“I’ve seen it so many times
“Once the guard rails come down [drivers] don’t know whether to go back or front.”
Tigerino and other witnesses said he heard the warning sounds of the crossing gate lowering and moments later heard a loud impact.
The 22-mile Blue Line runs from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles.
Including Monday’s fatality, 22 occupants of vehicles and 43 pedestrians have been killed along the Blue Line since it began operating in 1990, making it the deadliest of the MTA’s four rail routes.
Ten accidents have occurred at the Wilmington intersection alone, including five fatalities, said Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Rick Jager.
“The corridor has been particularly difficult for us. There are a lot of different exits and intersections,” Jager said. “We’ve worked with the city to erect more signage.”
Still, there are several other intersections along the route that have recorded significantly more accidents than the Wilmington intersection, including Venice Boulevard with 30 vehicular accidents, San Pedro Street with 23 accidents and 20th Street in Long Beach with 20 accidents.
Before 1990, slow-moving freight trains used the tracks, Jager said, and people may not realize that the Blue Line trains are moving up to 55 mph.
This is the third accident on the Blue Line this year, but the first involving a fatality.
The accident caused disruptions to MTA Blue Line service between the 103rd Street and Imperial/Wilmington stations during the busy Monday morning period. Jager said passengers experienced 30-minute delays when they were bused around the accident scene and transferred to another train.
Saturday, January 17, 2004
Blue Line Hits Teen Driver in Long Beach
Police Seek Identity of Driver Hurt in Crash
Los Angeles Times
January 20, 2004
Police were seeking the public’s help Monday in identifying a motorist who survived a crash with a Blue Line train.
The crash occurred at 9:11 p.m. Saturday when a tan 1985 Toyota Corolla turned into the path of a train at Long Beach Boulevard and Burnett Street, said Officer Greg Schirmer. The car’s license plate number is 5CPH259.
The driver, a male Latino believed to be in his late teens, with no identification, remained hospitalized and was unable to communicate.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Brian Watt at (562) 570-5520.
Los Angeles Times
January 20, 2004
Police were seeking the public’s help Monday in identifying a motorist who survived a crash with a Blue Line train.
The crash occurred at 9:11 p.m. Saturday when a tan 1985 Toyota Corolla turned into the path of a train at Long Beach Boulevard and Burnett Street, said Officer Greg Schirmer. The car’s license plate number is 5CPH259.
The driver, a male Latino believed to be in his late teens, with no identification, remained hospitalized and was unable to communicate.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Brian Watt at (562) 570-5520.
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