MARCH 16, 2015
OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA
A southbound Amtrak train hit a car on the railroad tracks
at Cassidy Street in Oceanside, according to Oceanside police.
The crash was reported at 8:12 a.m.
A woman drove the car onto the tracks after the warning
lights were activated, investigators said. It took rescuers about 20 minutes to
free her from the wreckage. She was conscious when she was loaded into a
helicopter ambulance and flown to a hospital. Her condition was not
immediately known.
Witnesses said that the woman drove onto the tracks,
reversed off the tracks and drove back onto the tracks several times. Police
planned to interview the woman at the hospital later Monday.
The Amtrak train was stopped on the tracks, blocking Cassidy
Street.
Passengers were being bused between the Oceanside station
and the Carlsbad Village statio.
The NCTD said all northbound Amtrak 573’s Coaster stops out
of San Diego were canceled. However, the northbound 777 train, departing San
Diego at noon, was scheduled to make all stops.
Based on the eyewitness statements, this was an apparent
attempt by the female driver to commit suicide by train. It must be the Monday morning blues.