A woman tragically lost her life in a collision between her vehicle and a train in Camarillo, officials reported on Wednesday. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office stated in a press release that the fatal accident occurred at the intersection of Lewis Road (SR 34) and Upland Road.
The crash happened on Tuesday morning, when the vehicle – for reasons yet unknown, was stopped on the train tracks as a southbound train entered the city limits. The train engineer, in an attempt to avert the impending disaster, applied emergency brakes but could not prevent the train from striking the vehicle and causing it to slam into a nearby signal control box.
The driver, a 63-year-old transient woman, incurred life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a hospital after the impact, where she eventually succumbed to her wounds. As a result of the accident, traffic signals at the intersection have been left flashing red and will remain so until repairs are made, which is anticipated to last at least through the following morning.
Senior Deputy Luke Riordan of the Camarillo Police Department urged witnesses to come forward, and the case remains under investigation. He underscored the importance of motorists heeding railroad signs and warned against stopping on the tracks. "Remember to obey all railroad marking signs and do not stop on the railroad tracks," he advised, citing California Vehicle Code requirements to stop once railroad flashing red lights are active, regardless of the position of the arms.
Anyone with information on the collision is requested to contact Senior Deputy Riordan at the Camarillo Police Department at (805) 388-5100. In the meantime, drivers are reminded to exercise caution and to fully stop at intersections with flashing red lights as required by law.
