DOWNEY : Train Crash Victim Was on Way to Wife’s Burial Place

The 83-year-old man who was killed Monday morning when his car was struck by a Metrolink commuter train was identified Tuesday as John Padilla of Downey.

Authorities said Padilla was on his way to visit nearby Rose Hills Memorial Park, where his wife, Lorraine, was buried four years ago.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators said Padilla apparently did not notice that the railroad crossing gate was down at Rose Hills Road. He slammed on his brakes, but his 1990 Oldsmobile crashed through the gate and stalled on the tracks, where it was hit by a Metrolink train traveling 73 m.p.h.