CAMARILLO : Man Jumps to Safety as Train Hits Truck
A Point Mugu man stalled his pickup truck on railroad tracks in Camarillo Friday afternoon, jumping from the cab seconds before an oncoming freight train smashed the truck into a post, officials said.
Jerry Joseph Alarcon, 46, was driving south on Las Posas Road, the sun in his eyes, approaching East Fifth Street when he noticed the railroad crossing arms were down, said California Highway Patrolman Brian Demattia.
Alarcon tried to brake, but his foot slipped onto the accelerator, Demattia said.
After crashing through one of the crossing arms, the truck stalled and Alarcon could not restart it, Demattia said.
A Southern Pacific freight train traveling west smashed the truck into a control box post, scattering the camper shell and its contents along the tracks, he said.
Alarcon suffered minor injuries from his jump. Officials closed Las Posas Road for about 45 minutes while the accident scene was cleared.
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