A woman died Tuesday afternoon after an Amtrak passenger train struck her car at the Southeast Harrison Street and 31st Avenue crossing in Milwaukie, according to police. Crews pulled the driver from the wrecked vehicle and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she later died of her injuries. The southbound passenger train stopped after the collision, and no passenger injuries were reported.
Crash details
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the car was stopped on the tracks when the train hit. Police reports indicate the crossing gates were down at the time. Milwaukie officers and Clackamas County firefighters responded, with firefighters removing the woman from the wrecked vehicle before she was taken to the hospital.
Power lines, closures and service
The impact sent the vehicle into a nearby utility pole, knocking down a PGE line and cutting power for some neighbors while repairs got underway, News Radio 1190 KEX reported. Roads around the crossing were shut down for several hours as emergency crews cleared the wreckage and utility workers made repairs. The train remained stopped at the scene.
Earlier crash at the same crossing
This is not the first serious scare at that intersection this year. In February, an Amtrak train hit an empty vehicle at the same Southeast Harrison and 31st crossing, with no injuries reported, according to KPTV. That earlier collision had already sparked neighborhood concern about cars left on the tracks and the speed of trains moving through the area.
Investigation
Clackamas County agencies and Amtrak Police are continuing to investigate the fatal collision, and Milwaukie police say they are looking for witnesses as they work to understand what happened, according to OregonLive. Officials have not yet released the victim’s name and are asking anyone with information to contact Milwaukie Police. The inquiry remains active.
Why it matters locally
The crash highlights ongoing safety concerns at at-grade crossings that slice through dense residential streets in Milwaukie, where trains pass close to homes and businesses. After collisions, local agencies typically coordinate on investigations and utility repairs, and neighbors can expect occasional traffic delays near the crossing while crews work and investigators finish their review.
