Blue Line Section Reopens After Fatal Weekend Crash
A three-mile stretch of the Metro Blue Line was reopened Sunday evening, after a weekend collision in Compton that derailed a northbound train and sheared a car in half, killing its passenger, officials said.
Service was restored shortly after 7 p.m., said Greg Davy, Southern California Rapid Transit District spokesman. He said trains will have to slow down at the accident site because of a missing power pole. Otherwise, the schedule will not be affected, he said.
On Sunday, Blue Line passengers were shuttled by bus from Del Amo Boulevard to Imperial Highway, adding about 20 minutes to their travel time, an RTD spokesman said.
Police said Saturday’s collision occurred when Johnny Carl Hagler, 47, of Long Beach tried to speed around a crossing gate to beat the train. Hagler was in serious condition Sunday at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center with multiple fractures.
His 43-year-old passenger, a Lynwood woman whose name was withheld pending notification of relatives, was killed instantly, officials said. One of the 53 passengers aboard the Blue Line suffered minor injuries.
Compton Police Sgt. William Wallace said Sunday that investigators are awaiting results of blood tests performed after the accident to determine if Hagler was intoxicated. If so, Hagler could face charges of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, Wallace said.
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