Woman Killed by Train When Her Car Gets Trapped on the Tracks

The impact sent the car nearly 100 feet.

A woman was killed when her car was trapped by traffic on railroad tracks. (ktla)

• VIDEO: Woman killed by train, Cher Calvin reports

KTLA News

9:22 p.m. PST, December 13, 2010

ONTARIO ( KTLA) -- A woman whose car became trapped on railroad tracks was struck and killed by a train with such force, the impact threw the vehicle nearly 100 feet.

The accident happened just after 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of Milliken Avenue and Guasti Road.

According to Ontario police investigators, the woman in her car and a truck stopped on the railroad tracks at a red light instead of stopping behind the tracks as required.

Two vehicles, the woman's 1998 Honda Accord and a truck, were side-by-side on the tracks during a red light.

"The truck pulled out of the way and the lady probably did not see the train coming," Ontario Fire Captain Dan Simeon said. "She was trying to get out of her car when the train slammed into it."

The victim has been identified as 33 year old Silvia Hurtado of Banning.

At the time of the collision, the traffic light was green, Ontario Police Detective Jeff Higbee said, and the intersection was congested with cars and trucks.

Hurtado's vehicle was northbound in the number two lane as the westbound Union Pacific freight train was approaching.

"She was stuck behind traffic, not stuck on the tracks," Higbee said. "She couldn't get off the tracks in time."

The collision sent her vehicle westbound into a nearby utility pole.

"That's why it's better to stop behind the painted line on the street before the tracks," Higbee said. "Never stop on the tracks."

Police said the train signals that warn vehicles of approaching trains were working.

A Union Pacific employee said the train, which was only pulling four engine cars, was going about 55 mph.

Passenger trains usually go about 70 miles per hour, the employee said, compared to freight trains, which go 10 to 15 miles slower.

Police shut down the intersection at Airport Drive and Milliken for about two hours while officials cleared the scene and inspected a nearby gas line.