Big Rig Backs Into Train; None Injured
A southbound Amtrack train headed for a station in Santa Ana collided with a tractor-trailer rig Thursday, but no one was injured.
The train, which had slowed to about 10 m.p.h. as it approached a scheduled stop, hit the tractor-trailer near the intersection of Washington and Lincoln avenues at 1:40 p.m., Police Lt. Earl Porter said.
The driver of the rig, Thomas Koch, 37, was delivering furniture to a Santa Ana business when he backed over the top of a crossing arm and onto the railroad tracks. Koch was being given hand-signal directions by an employee of the business because he could not see the tracks, Porter said.
“The railroad crossing warning lights, bells and arms had been activated by the train,” Porter said. “The train was sounding its horn and trying to stop but it was unable to.”
The train hit the passenger side of the rig, which is owned by Arkansas-based Transco Leasing Inc. The impact of the collision pushed the rig off the tracks, Porter said.
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