Docket
About 5:44 a.m.
(local time) on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, a Metrolink commuter train collided
with a truck tractor in combination with a van semitrailer at an active
railroad grade crossing in Oxnard, Ventura County, California. The grade
crossing, located at Rice Road was protected by a combination of crossing
gates, and both post and cantilever mounted flashing lights. The
Metrolink train was identified as train #102 and was en-route from east Ventura
County to Los Angeles when it struck the combination vehicle at the
crossing. As a result of the crash, four (4) train cars derailed; with
three of them overturning and coming to rest on their sides. A portion of
the semitrailer remained adjacent to the crossing and the remaining portion of
the combination vehicle was carried down the tracks. Thirty (30) train
occupants received injuries of varying degree and no fatalities occurred.
The truck driver was reportedly uninjured
Robert Accetta is leading the team as
investigator-in-charge. NTSB Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt is accompanying the
team and will serve as the principal spokesman during the on-scene phase of the
investigation.
Public Affairs Officer Terry Williams will also be on-scene in California to coordinate media-related activities. He can be reached at Terry.Williams@ntsb.gov or by mobile phone at (202)557-1350.