Bicyclist Killed When Struck by Freight Train in Buena Park
An unidentified bicyclist who tried to pedal around lowered railroad crossing arms was struck and killed Monday night by a Santa Fe freight train, Buena Park police said.
The man, described as in his mid-20s, was thrown about 200 feet in the accident at the Dale Street crossing near Artesia Avenue about 8:30 p.m., police spokesman Terry Branum said. The body carried no identification.
The accident was reported to authorities by the engineer of the westbound, 91-car freight train bound from San Bernardino to Los Angeles, Branum said. Police said the train was traveling about 45 m.p.h.
According to witnesses, the bicyclist waited for an eastbound freight train to pass, then leaped onto his bicycle and pedaled around the lowered crossing arms at the railroad tracks as the westbound train barreled through, Branum said.
The victim’s bicycle was thrown several hundred feet.
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