1 dead, 1 injured after Amtrak train collides with tow truck in Cardiff

Crash near Chesterfield Dr. at S. Coast Hwy. 101

Cardiff train tow truck crash


Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Cardiff train tow truck crash wreckage


Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Cardiff train tow truck crash SUV


Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Cardiff train tow truck crash tape


Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Posted: 12/08/2012
Last Updated: 167 days ago

ENCINITAS, Calif. - A man was killed and another person was injured on Saturday after an Amtrak train collided with a tow truck in Cardiff.

According to authorities, a tow truck arrived to the intersection of Chesterfield Drive and South Coast Highway 101 to move a white SUV that stalled near the tracks, just before 2:30 p.m.,

The occupants of the SUV then saw a southbound Amtrak train heading towards them and moved out of the way.

A man who works with the tow truck driver told 10News the driver knew the train was heading towards him. He said the driver jumped back into the truck to try and move it out of the way, but it was too late.

During the impact, a passenger on the Amtrak train told 10News he felt it.

"It was like hitting a large speed bump," he said.

The train came to a stop and passengers were made aware of what happened.

One person on the train was injured. The extent of his or her injuries and condition were not released.

The tow truck driver died at the scene. His coworker told 10News the driver was in his 20s, was married and the father of a small child.

"I feel definitely sorry," said a passenger on the train. "I feel terrible. I feel like it could have been worse. The train could have completely toppled over and then everyone inside would have been seriously injured."

Other Coaster trains could be delayed due to the crash, but a bus bridge was set up to pick up passengers in Solana Beach and take them north, according to the NCTD.

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. City News Service contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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