Amtrak Train Hits Car Stuck on Tracks

An Amtrak train sheared off the front of car that was stuck on the railroad tracks Tuesday, but the driver of the car walked away uninjured, police said.

The woman, whose name was not available Tuesday night, apparently stopped on the tracks at the intersection of 17th Street and Lincoln Avenue about 6:15 p.m., Police Sgt. Dave Petko said.

The railroad crossing gates had descended when the Amtrak train, traveling at about 60 m.p.h., was heading toward the car, Petko said.

“Instead of stepping on the gas and crashing through the arm to get away, the woman tried to move her car” backward and around the gate to avoid the train, Petko said. “She didn’t want to damage the property, I guess.”

The train conductor hit the brakes but the train skidded and hit the car, tearing off its front, said Petko. The southbound Amtrak train was heading into the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center at the time of the accident. No one on the train was reported injured.