Three Injured in Train Collision in Santa Monica

By Jorge Casuso

April 18, 2018 -- Three people were injured when a vehicle driven by a drunk driver ran a red light and was struck by a Metro train in Santa Monica shortly after midnight Wednesday, police said.

Three occupants of the vehicle were treated by Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics at the Expo light rail crossing at Lincoln Boulevard and Colorado Avenue, police said.

The three occupants were hospitalized, with one sustaining more serious injuries, said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the Police Department spokesman.

A preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle, which was traveling north on Lincoln Boulevard, was struck by the westbound train as it crossed the rail tracks at Colorado Avenue, police said.

There is no rail barrier at the intersection.

"A contributing factor to the collision appears to be that the driver of the vehicle was driving under the influence of alcohol," Rodriguez said.

SMPD's Major Accident Response Team responded and is conducting a collision investigation, Rodriguez said.

"The investigation is ongoing and investigators are interested in speaking with anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision," he said.

There have been several collisions, one of them fatal, involving trains on the Expo line, which opened in Santa Monica in May 2016 ("All Aboard Santa Monica’s New Light Rail Line," May 20, 2016).

Two occurred during the testing phase but neither resulted in serious injuries.

The lone fatality occurred last November when a pedestrian crossing the tracks near 14th Street and Colorado Avenue was struck by a passing train ("Pedestrian Killed by Expo Train in Santa Monica," November 6, 2017).

Anyone with additional information on Wednesday's collision should contact Investigator Pace at (310) 458-8488 or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.