IRVINE : Woman Escapes Car in Train’s Path

A 37-year-old Irvine woman came within seconds of death or serious injury Monday morning when a speeding Mercedes rear-ended her car, pushing it into the path of an oncoming Metrolink train.

Mary Ingles and two occupants of the Mercedes all managed to get out of their cars and flee to safety at the Culver Drive crossing south of Walnut Avenue as the commuter train approached at 7:35 a.m.

The train slammed into the cars about 20 seconds later, totaling both of them, according to Ingles and Irvine Sgt. Tim Smith.

“What a way to start a Monday,” said a shaken Ingles, who was recovering at her Irvine home Monday afternoon from minor injuries received in the auto accident. “I guess it wasn’t my time to go yet.”

The driver of the Mercedes, 18-year-old Justin Meier of Irvine, was not injured. His brother was in the car with him and was also unhurt, Smith said.

Ingles, a secretary with the Irvine Co., had just dropped her two 15-year-old sons off at school and was headed to work when the lights at the railroad crossing started flashing and the security arms lowered.

Ingles said she came to a full stop and just had time to catch a glimpse in the rearview mirror of the Mercedes barreling her way before it hit her, pushing her Honda onto the tracks.

She could already hear the whistle of the train when her car lunged forward and her air bag opened.

Police said it appeared Meier was trying to make it across the tracks before the train and may not have seen Ingles.

“He was trying to get through the intersection while the arms were still up,” Smith said of Meier.

What followed was a few seconds of surreal panic as a dazed Ingles heard the yells of nearby construction workers telling her to get out of the car.

She fumbled with her seat belt for what seemed like an eternity, she said, first grasping at the wrong side.

“It was all I could do to get out,” Ingles said. “I just remember running on the rocks, and then I could hear the train hit the car and it was kind of flying in my direction. I was just running. I didn’t turn back to look.”

Ingles was taken to Irvine Medical Center with neck and chest pain, a sprained right arm and cuts on her right leg, Smith said. She was treated and released. Smith said the accident is under investigation. No one has been cited.

As for Ingles, she is thankful that her children, who came home early Monday to take care of her, were safely at school when the accident occurred.

Smith said pieces of the Mercedes were scattered around the crash scene. The mangled Honda remained in one piece.

“Words couldn’t even describe what it looked like,” Ingles said.