1 Injury Critical in Rail-Crossing Crash

A woman was critically injured Monday when the catering truck in which she was riding was struck by two linked Southern Pacific locomotives in Simi Valley, authorities said.

The woman, identified as Astrid Orellana, 24, was in a truck driven by Howard Rutherford, 23, of Simi Valley when Rutherford “tried to beat the train across the tracks,” Simi Valley Police Sgt. Bob Rollins said.

Rutherford, northbound on Tapo Street about 1 p.m., drove around lowered railroad crossing arms, Rollins said. The locomotives were traveling from Oxnard to Van Nuys at about 55 m.p.h. when they struck the back of the truck.

The impact threw Orellana out of the vehicle and about 70 feet down the tracks, Southern Pacific spokesman John Tierney said.

Rutherford suffered cuts and bruises and was treated at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital and released. Orellana, whose address was not available, suffered massive injuries. She was in extremely critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Simi Valley police are investigating whether Rutherford should be cited, Rollins said.