Car Crashes Into Side Of Train; One Dead

Last Updated on June 5, 2008 by Paulette Brown-Hinds

RIVERSIDE

The lone occupant of a rented car sustained fatal injuries when the vehicle slammed into the side of a moving freight train at a crossing Monday morning in northeast Riverside.

The 2007 Nissan Sentra was traveling eastbound on Spruce Street at a speed of about 50 miles per hour, according to witnesses. The vehicle failed to stop for a stop sign at Watkins Drive and collided with the eastbound Burlington Northern-Santa Fe freight train at 9:34 a.m. The train was traveling in a northerly direction at the time and was well underway through the intersection. Witnesses estimated the locomotive to be a half-mile down the track at the time the motorist struck the left side of the train. The lone female adult occupant was killed on impact.

Anyone with information helpful to this investigation is asked to call Riverside Police Traffic Detective Joe Avila at (951) 353-7985.