Placentia Man Critically Hurt Trying to Beat Freight Train
A 48-year-old Placentia man heading home from a convenience store Thursday afternoon apparently was trying to hurry across some railroad tracks ahead of an oncoming freight train when he was struck and critically injured, authorities said.
Jose Gonzalez de Anda Jr. was flown by helicopter to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, where he was listed in “extremely critical” condition late Thursday.
The accident occurred in the 1700 block of East Orangethorpe Avenue.
Placentia Police Lt. Daryll Thomann said De Anda and a friend apparently rushed across the tracks just ahead of a Santa Fe freight train to avoid having to wait for the train to pass.
The friend made it across, but De Anda was hit by a step extending from the locomotive, Thomann said.
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