Victim of Metrolink Crash Is Identified

A Moorpark man who was killed this week when his disabled truck was struck by a Metrolink train was identified Wednesday as Charles Ozal Shere, 64.

Investigators initially believed that Shere, who had been involved in a head-on collision, was trapped inside his truck on a Los Angeles Avenue railroad crossing in Moorpark when his vehicle was then hit by the train.

But authorities now say that Shere had gotten out of the truck and was moving away from it when the train struck, spinning the truck around and pushing it into Shere, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Tumbleson said.

The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday as the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Moorpark with 45 passengers.

Arturo Bacilio, 24, of Sunland was driving a sport utility vehicle that crossed over the center line of the roadway and collided with Shere’s truck moments before the train crash, Tumbleson said.

The investigation of the initial accident is continuing, but Bacilio has not been charged, he said.

Bacilio, who suffered minor injuries, did not explain his actions, but there was no evidence that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident, Tumbleson said.

Shere had worked seven years for the Simi Valley Public Works Department as an electrician, said Tim Nanson, the city’s director of public works.

“He was a wonderful guy,” Nanson said. “He was so light-hearted and cheerful. No one ever remembers Chuck coming in and having a bad day. This has hit this city hard.”

Shere, who was married with three grown children, had just left work followed by several city employees, who tried to help him after the initial crash. One co-worker had helped Shere get out of his truck and was nearby when the train hit the vehicle.

“This is a terrible tragedy for Chuck and for all those who witnessed it -- those who worked with him,” Nanson said.