Tragedy struck the Oxnard Plains area on Thursday afternoon when a commuter train collided with a vehicle. This fatal accident occurred just outside the city of Camarillo and has left one person dead. The incident has caused significant disruptions for travelers on the Metrolink Ventura County Line as authorities work to investigate the cause of the crash.
📍 Collision at Las Posas Road and East Fifth Street
The Ventura County Fire Department received reports of a serious accident shortly before 3 p.m. on December 18. Emergency crews rushed to the intersection of Las Posas Road and East Fifth Street where they found a heavily damaged vehicle near the tracks. According to initial reports from officials a southbound Metrolink Train 118 was traveling through the area when it struck the car.
The impact of the collision was devastating. Footage from the scene showed the mangled remains of the vehicle with some parts wedged beneath the train. Despite the quick response from first responders the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. This intersection has been a point of concern for residents and this latest tragedy highlights the dangers of railroad crossings in the county.
🚍 Passengers and Crew Escape Injury
While the driver of the car lost their life there were no injuries reported among those on board the train. Metrolink officials confirmed that there were 14 passengers and two crew members on the train at the time of the impact. All 16 people were unharmed and remained on the train while the initial investigation was conducted by the California Highway Patrol.
Because the tracks had to be closed for the investigation Metrolink made arrangements to transport the stranded passengers. Buses were brought in to take the commuters to the Moorpark train station so they could continue their journeys. The closure of the tracks between Camarillo and Oxnard led to major delays for the rest of the day for anyone using the Ventura County Line.
🛡️ Ongoing Investigation into the Deadly Crash
The California Highway Patrol and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office are now working to figure out exactly how this happened. It is currently unclear if the vehicle was stalled on the tracks or if the driver attempted to cross the tracks while the warning signals were active. Investigators are looking at every detail to provide answers to the family of the victim.
This tragic event serves as a somber reminder for everyone in Ventura County to be extremely cautious at train crossings. Metrolink is urging the public to always obey the crossing arms and signals to prevent further loss of life. As more details become available authorities will release the identity of the driver once their family has been notified.