An Amtrak collided with a pick-up truck in Watsonville at Kirby and Elkhorn Road. The train was headed towards San Luis Obispo from San Francisco. The pick-up driver apparently drove through the tracks without seeing the train. Around 150 people were on-board the train, and many stayed while investigators inspected the scene for about an hour. Others left the train immediately and did not return. “The train impacted the truck approximately 50 miles per hour after the engineer applied the emergency system to bring it to a stop,” says Sgt. Carl Churchfield of CHP. “The collision resulted in a double fatality.” The driver and passenger in the pick-up truck were killed instantly.
According to news reports, the railroad crossing had a stop sign, but no signals. Witnesses say the train blew its horn, but the driver did not listen. They did not stop at the sign, also. Investigators are currently researching the cause of the accident, but CHP did not believe the driver was under the influence or speeding at the time. As a Fresno personal injury lawyer, I am glad that no one else was hurt severely due to this tragic collision. I hope investigators discover the cause behind the wreck. If you or a loved one are in an auto accident due to the other driver’s negligence, consult with a car accident attorney Fresno.
