SAN DIEGO - An autopsy was pending Sunday for the tow truck driver who was struck and killed by an Amtrak train at a railroad crossing in Cardiff.

A southbound Surfliner train hit the flatbed tow truck, which reportedly was between closed crossing arms, at Chesterfield Drive about 2:35 p.m. Saturday, demolishing the rig and killing the driver, authorities said.

The tow truck driver was apparently assisting the owner of a broken-down SUV just west of the tracks, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Authorities have not officially released the driver's name. Coworkers identified him to 10News as 27-year-old Shaun Riddle.

Riddle's coworkers at Towex spoke highly of him.

"He was a great guy," a coworker said. "Always happy, came to work on time, never complained about working extra hours or late. He was just an excellent worker and a good guy."

The southbound train stopped at the Solana Beach station, where several of the 125 passengers aboard were treated for minor injuries. Passengers were transferred to another train or buses, and the tracks were reopened shortly before 5 p.m.