Fatal Train/Car Collision In Camarillo
Tuesday January 02, 2024
(Photos courtesy VCFD PIO)
Upland--An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passenger train struck a vehicle in Camarillo late Tuesday morning killing the female driver, the only occupant of the car.
It happened around 10:30 AM where the tracks cross Upland Road on the east side of Lewis Road.
A 63-year-old female transient driving the white sedan was critically injured and was airlifted to the trauma center at Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks where she died.
Ventura County Sheriff's Captain Dean Worthy told KVTA News via email "Sadly, the woman succumbed to her injuries from the collision. She was pronounced deceased at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks. Hospital staff notified the Sheriff’s Office of her death at around 12:30 pm today."
No one on the train was hurt.
The train was headed for points north like Oxnard, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, but in that area it was actually traveling in a southbound direction through Camarillo.
It's believed the women intended to go westbound from Upland through the intersection to Las Posas Road.
Traffic investigators say she was stopped on the tracks.
They say the engineer tied to stop but it was too late and the train struck the car.
The impact of the crash pushed the vehicle across the eastbound lanes of Upland into the control box for the railroad crossing arms.
Firefighters had to cut her out of the wreckage and started life saving measures as they transported her to the hospital where she died.
Due to the collision, the traffic signals at the intersection Upland, Lewis, Las Posas, and Somis roads will be flashing red at least until Wednesday morning.
When approaching an intersection with flashing red lights, you are required to stop.
The collision is still under investigation by the Camarillo Police Department Traffic Bureau.
Anyone who might have witnessed the collision is asked to contact Senior Deputy Luke Riordan at the Camarillo Police Department at (805) 388-5100.
As a reminder to motorists, remember to obey all railroad marking signs and do not stop on the railroad tracks.
Per the California Vehicle Code, motorists are required to stop as soon as the railroad arm flashing red lights are illuminated whether or not the railroad arms are down.
