LOCAL : Rail Tragedy Averted in Buena Park
Two Santa Fe Railroad employees pulled a woman and five children out of a car stopped on the railroad tracks in Buena Park this morning, just seconds before a passenger train crashed into the car, police said.
Lorraine Ruiz, 26, of Buena Park was driving her 1967 Chevrolet across the railroad tracks north on Dale Avenue about 8:30 a.m. when the train-crossing arms came down on the trunk of the car, Buena Park Police Officer Rich McMillen said.
“For unknown reasons, Ruiz stopped her vehicle on the tracks and did not go forward,” he said.
Santa Fe employees Joe Otero, 44, and Anthony Morales, 32, were working near the crossing and saw that a westbound Amtrak passenger train traveling about 55 m.p.h. was about 100 yards away from colliding with the car.
“They pulled the driver and five children from the vehicle just seconds before the collision,” McMillen said. “The train demolished the car.”
After a brief inspection, the train continued on its route. There were no injuries.
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