Caltrain Locomotive Strikes, Kills Person On Tracks In Potrero Hill [Updated]

Caltrain Locomotive Strikes, Kills Person On Tracks In Potrero Hill [Updated]Photo: Google Maps
Walter Thompson
Published on October 19, 2017

[Update, 10/20, 8:39am] The victim has succumbed to their injuries. According to Bay City News, the incident is Caltrain's eighth fatality this year.


This afternoon at 2:45pm, a person was struck by a Caltrain locomotive near a crossing at 16th Street in Potrero Hill.

According to Dan Lieberman, a spokesperson for the transportation agency, the injured individual was trespassing and has been transported to a hospital.

The train, which had 108 passengers onboard, was held in place, along with other trains that were inside the city.

According to Caltrain's Twitter account, northbound trains are still on schedule, while southbound trains are facing delays.

The crossing, which is located directly beneath the 280 freeway, is "at-grade," which means the train tracks and roadway are at the same level.

As this 2015 video of a southbound train shows, gates drop, red lights begin to flash, and bells begin to ring before the train enters the crossing.

A southbound train at 16th St. crossing. | Video: MobileRailSpotterRxR/YouTube