2015 Oxnard train derailment

2015 rail transport disaster in Oxnard, California, USA October 2026 November 2020 2015 Oxnard train derailment File:Hyundai Rotem Cab Car.jpg Photograph of a train similar to that involved in the accident A Metrolink train similar to the one involved in the accident. 34.19712 -119.14227 type:event_region:US-CA inline,title dms February 24, 2015 5:44 a.m. local time (13:44 UTC) Oxnard, California United States Ventura County Line Metrolink Road crossing collision Truck driver mistakenly turning onto railroad tracks 1 2 51 3 1 33 The 2015 Oxnard train derailment occurred on February 24, 2015, at 5:44 a.m. local time when a Metrolink passenger train collided with a truck that a driver had mistakenly turned from Rice Avenue (SR 1) onto the tracks and became stuck. After the impact, the train derailed at Oxnard, California, United States. As a result of the crash, the train engineer died from his injuries a week later, and 32 passengers and crew members were injured. The truck driver exited his vehicle and ran from the scene before the crash; he sustained minor injuries that were unrelated to the crash sequence. Background The accident happened along the Coast Line owned by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). This portion of the railroad runs parallel to East Fifth Street (designated California State Route 34 (SR 34)) between Camarillo and Oxnard. Besides Metrolink, Amtrak passenger trains and UP freight trains use the line. An average of eight passenger and 24 freight trains use the line in each direction each day.February 25, 2015 Metrolink train slams into truck in Oxnard; driver arrested for hit-and-run KABC-TV http://abc7.com/532179/ February 25, 2015Pacific Surfliner Schedule http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/761/800/Pacific-Surfliner-Schedule-100614,0.pdf March 3, 2015 Amtrak At the Rice Avenue (SR 1) at-grade crossing, where this collision occurred, emergency crews had previously pulled vehicles off the tracks about 18 times.Diskin Megan April 25, 2019 Truck driver pleads guilty in Oxnard's fatal 2015 train derailment en Ventura County Star https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/oxnard/2019/04/25/truck-driver-pleads-guilty-oxnards-fatal-2015-train-derailment/3581156002/ April 28, 2019 A bridge to allow Rice Avenue to pass over the tracks had been planned for almost two decades, however, funding remained unavailable in Ventura County for the estimated $35 million grade separation project.Weikel Dan Nelson Laura J. March 1, 2015 Spending on rail crossing safety upgrades varies widely across Southland Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/countygovernment/la-me-metrolink-crossings-20150301-story.html March 3, 2015 Accident thumb|NTSB investigator examines wreckage|left On Tuesday, February 24, 2015, in the predawn hours, Metrolink commuter train #102, operated by Amtrak, was en route from Ventura County, California to Los Angeles. As the train approached the South Rice Avenue (SR 1) grade crossing in Oxnard at 5:44 a.m. local time (13:44 UTC), it collided with a 2005 Ford F-450 pick-up truck that was towing a 2000 Wells Cargo two-axle utility trailer.https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB1607.pdf Highway Accident Brief: Train and Truck Crash on Railroad Right-of-Way and Subsequent Fire NTSB/HAB-16/07 National Transportation Safety Board November 13, 2020 The truck driver, 54-year-old Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez, who was unfamiliar with the area and was “acutely fatigued” at the time of the incident, intended to turn right onto East Fifth Street (SR 34) from South Rice Avenue but mistakenly turned onto the UP tracks, and the truck became lodged on the track about 80 ft m west of the grade crossing. The driver attempted to push the truck off the track. He also stated that he tried to call 911 but was in a state of panic and could not do so. At some point before the arrival of the train, he exited the truck, leaving the headlights and hazard lights on and the driver door open. Based on an analysis of GPS data obtained from the driver’s cell phone, about 12 minutes elapsed between the time the truck became lodged on the tracks and the collision with the train. The train was led by a Hyundai Rotem cab/coach car #645 (a nonpowered coach car with a compartment from which the engineer can control the train), followed by Bombardier BiLevel coach car #206, Hyundai Rotem coach cars 211 and 263, and EMD F59PH diesel-electric locomotive #870 at the rear. It was occupied by three crew members (an engineer, a student engineer, and a conductor) and 51 passengers. The train was traveling from East Ventura to Los Angeles. It was accelerating after leaving the Oxnard station 2 miles away from the crash site.February 24, 2015 Metrolink Train Derails In Oxnard After Colliding With Truck On Tracks CBS News Local http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/02/24/metrolink-train-derails-in-oxnard-after-colliding-with-train-on-tracks/ February 24, 2015 Passenger trains are permitted to travel at up to 79 mph km/h on the section of track where the crash occurred.Covarrubias Amanda Rocha Veronica Sahagun Louis February 24, 2015 Metrolink train hits truck, derails in Oxnard; truck driver in custody Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-trail-derails-30-injured-20150224-story.html February 24, 2015 Before the accident, the train was traveling at 64 mph km/h when the emergency brakes were appliedFebruary 26, 2015 NTSB Member Robert Sumwalt's third briefing on the Metrolink grade crossing accident in Oxnard, CA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hSlciKwelc February 26, 2015 National Transportation Safety Board video (25m 32s) and had slowed to 56 mph km/h when it hit the truck. thumb|NTSB investigator examines truck involved in the crash|left After striking the truck and trailer, the train continued through the grade crossing, where all four-passenger cars subsequently derailed, and three rolled over on their sides. The locomotive did not derail.February 24, 2015 California train derails after collision with truck BBC News Online https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-31609770 February 24, 2015 The truck was pushed along the track and came to rest about 130 feet east of the grade crossing on the south side of the track bed. The trailer detached from the truck and came to rest on the grade crossing, where a post-crash fire consumed it. Debris from the collision caused minor damage to a 1998 Toyota Camry, which was stopped at the grade crossing, facing north, at the time of the crash. As a result of the crash, the train engineer died, and 32 passengers and crew members were injured. 12 passengers and one crew member had injuries described as serious and were treated at Community Memorial Hospital, Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, St. John's Regional Medical Center, St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital, and Ventura County Medical Center.February 24, 2015 Dozens injured in Metrolink train collision transported to area hospitals KABC-TV http://abc7.com/news/dozens-injured-in-metrolink-train-collision-transported-to-area-hospitals/532969/ February 25, 2015 The truck driver exited his vehicle and ran from the scene before the crash; he sustained minor injuries that were unrelated to the crash sequence and was later taken into custody about a mile away. The Toyota driver was not injured. left Investigation thumb|NTSB Board Member Robert Sumwalt briefs media in February 2015 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation into the accident, and a go-team was dispatched to the scene.Mohney Gillian February 24, 2015 Metrolink Crash: Driver Flees Scene After Train Collides With Truck ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/commuter-train-strikes-vehicle-partially-derails-southern-california/story?id=29183024 February 24, 2015NTSB Launches Go-Team to Grade Crossing Accident in Oxnard, CA National Transportation Safety Board https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/PR20150224.aspx February 24, 2015 The train was fitted with a forward-facing camera in the cab/coach car and the camera recorded the collision itself.February 25, 2015 Member Sumalt holds second on scene media briefing on grade crossing accident in Oxnard, CA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5eG8w7tBrw February 26, 2015 National Transportation Safety Board video (20m 43s) The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the crash was the truck driver mistakenly turning onto the railroad right-of-way due to acute fatigue and unfamiliarity with the area. The NTSB investigation found that the crash occurred nearly 24 hours after the truck driver, Sanchez-Ramirez, reported for duty in Somerton, Arizona and 16.75 hours after he began the trip to Oxnard, well above the limits set for commercial drivers. The truck driver worked for The Growers Company but operated a vehicle owned by Harvest Management. The two companies share the same ownership and manage a farming operation. After having been off duty the day before, the driver went on duty at 5:51 a.m. on February 23. At 1:00 p.m., his employer dispatched Sanchez-Ramirez from their base in Somerton to Oxnard, a 6-hour trip. However, Sanchez-Ramirez experienced a 4.5-hour delay in Jacumba, California due to a damaged radiator, which necessitated that he obtain a replacement truck. Additionally, his truck was sideswiped by another vehicle in Los Angeles, which further extended his travel time. The cab/coach car and two of the three coach cars were fitted with a crash energy management (CEM) system designed to dissipate kinetic energy during a collision. The cars had been purchased as part of the response to Metrolink's deadly 2005 Glendale train crash and 2008 Chatsworth train collision.Weikel Dan June 25, 2013 Metrolink gets final delivery of rail cars with safety upgrades en-US Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-jun-25-la-me-metrolink-safety-20130626-story.html November 13, 2020 The NTSB investigation determined that the CEM elements (colloquially known as "crumple zones") were not activated in the collision. The investigation further determined that welds on the train's pilot assembly (colloquially known as a "snowplow" or "cowcatcher") failed and detached from the lead cab car during the crash sequence; however, no markings or damage suggested that the pilot assembly itself interfered with the wheels of the train and caused the derailment. The railcar interiors exhibited no loss of occupant survival space, and analysis determined the primary cause of injury was the overturning of the railcars and subsequent passenger and crew impacts with hard interior surfaces.Weikel Dan December 16, 2015 Metrolink train cars that derailed in Oxnard had flawed parts, confidential report finds Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-adv-metrolink-report-20151216-story.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20151216202635/http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-adv-metrolink-report-20151216-story.html December 16, 2015 Aftermath thumb|BNSF AC4400CW 5696 pulling Metrolink in the aftermath of the derailment Immediately following the derailment, service was suspended through the accident site, and Metrolink passengers were bussed between Camarillo, Oxnard, and East Ventura stations.Cota-Robles Marc February 25, 2015 Metrolink trains resume regular service after Oxnard crash https://abc7.com/533834/ November 13, 2020 ABC7 Los Angeles en Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and service between Los Angeles and Goleta, that uses the same tracks, was canceled.February 24, 2015 Metrolink train hits a vehicle in Oxnard Ventura County Star http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/vehicle-hits-metrolink-train-in-oxnard February 24, 2015 Local roads around the scene of the accident were closed. Service along the rail line was restored by Wednesday afternoon, with the first passenger train passing through the crash site at about 5:40p.m. The train engineer, Glenn Steele, 62, was critically injured and died one week later.Serna Joseph Rocha Veronica Train engineer dies of injuries suffered in Metrolink crash with truck http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-20150303-story.html March 3, 2015 LA Times March 3, 2015Kurzweil Anthony March 3, 2015 Engineer Aboard Metrolink Train That Collided With Truck in Oxnard Dies KTLA Los Angeles http://ktla.com/2015/03/03/metrolink-engineer-involved-in-oxnard-train-crash-with-truck-left-on-tracks-dies/ March 3, 2015 Steele was employed by Amtrak, which provides train crews to Metrolink under contract, and at the time of his death, was the most senior engineer with Metrolink, having spent half of his 42-year-long Amtrak career with Metrolink.Antczak John March 3, 2015 Engineer in Southern California train crash dies San Francisco Chronicle Associated Press http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/us/article/Engineer-dies-from-California-train-crash-injuries-6112383.php March 3, 2015Rocha Veronica Serna Joseph March 3, 2015 A week after Metrolink train crashes into truck, engineer dies Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-20150303-story.html March 3, 2015Watts Amanda March 4, 2015 Engineer in California Metrolink train crash dies CNN http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/03/us/california-train-wreck-engineer-dies/ March 3, 2015 Steele died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center early on March 3.Chu Hanna March 3, 2015 Metrolink Engineer Dies Following Oxnard Train Crash KABC-TV Los Angeles http://abc7.com/news/metrolink-engineer-dies-following-oxnard-train-crash/542107/ March 3, 2015 A resident of Homeland, California, Steele was a grandfather. The truck driver, Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez, 54, left the scene on foot following the accident but was later taken into custody about a mile away. According to his attorney, the man was trying to summon help in a remote part of the county without a vehicle and with no guarantee anyone he found would be able to communicate with him since he only speaks Spanish. When he finally encountered police officers, he handed them the cell phone on which he had been talking to his son so that his son could explain to the officers what had just happened to the train.Melissa Pamer Christina Pascucci Kirk Hawkins February 25, 2015 Driver of Pickup Truck in Metrolink Crash Was Going to Get Help, Not Fleeing, Attorney Says KTLA 5 http://ktla.com/2015/02/25/driver-of-pickup-truck-in-metrolink-crash-was-going-to-get-help-not-fleeing-attorney-says/ He was booked on suspicion of hit and run and held on $150,000 bail, but prosecutors later declined to file criminal charges against him and he was released two days later.Ashley Soley-Cerro Lynette Romero Melissa Pamer Kareen Wynter Christina Pascucci Courtney Friel Kimberly Cheng Steve Kunj Kirk Hawkins February 25, 2015 Truck Driver Taken Into Custody on Suspicion of Felony Hit-and-Run in Metrolink Crash KTLA http://ktla.com/2015/02/24/at-least-1-dead-after-train-hits-vehicle-in-ventura-county/ February 26, 2015February 27, 2015 Driver freed without charges in California train crash Washington Post Associated Press https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/feds-california-train-was-going-56-mph-when-it-hit-truck/2015/02/26/d8a2af70-be1a-11e4-9dfb-03366e719af8_story.html https://archive.today/20150301203038/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/feds-california-train-was-going-56-mph-when-it-hit-truck/2015/02/26/d8a2af70-be1a-11e4-9dfb-03366e719af8_story.html dead March 1, 2015 March 1, 2015 On February 22, 2016, Sanchez-Ramirez was charged with a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge by Ventura County prosecutors.Abdollah Tami County files manslaughter charge in California train crash Associated Press The Associated Press http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f44c7fe028024eed80b7f4e8474c7a57/county-files-manslaughter-charge-california-train-crash February 23, 2016 February 24, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160224094702/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f44c7fe028024eed80b7f4e8474c7a57/county-files-manslaughter-charge-california-train-crash dead He pleaded guilty to the charge on April 25, 2019 and was sentenced on July 24 to spend 30 days in jail.Diskin Megan July 25, 2019 Truck driver in Oxnard's fatal 2015 Metrolink crash ordered to serve 30 days in jail en Ventura County Star https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/oxnard/2019/07/24/truck-driver-oxnard-metrolink-crash-ordered-serve-30-days-jail/1806104001/ July 25, 2019 In March 2015, two of those injured due to the crash sued the truck driver, and his employer, Harvest Management LLC.Weikel Dan March 11, 2015 Two people seriously hurt in Oxnard Metrolink crash file lawsuits Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-oxnard-metrolink-lawsuits-20150311-story.html April 1, 2015 Metrolink announced on September 3, 2015, that they would restrict the use of the cab cars for at least a year as they reviewed the safety features. As a stopgap, BNSF Railway locomotives were borrowed to add a second locomotive to each train set, positioned in front of the cab car.Metrolink to enhance safety and performance by adding locomotives September 3, 2015 Metrolink http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/1004.html September 7, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150906215919/http://metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/1004.html September 6, 2015 deadWeikel Dan September 3, 2015 Metrolink examining safety of state-of-the-art rail cars in wake of Oxnard crash Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-metrolink-safety-20150903-story.html September 7, 2015 Metrolink determined that all of the pilot assemblies on the Hyundai–Rotem cab car had not been securely attached, and on July 8, 2016, the Metrolink board approved a $1.5 million plan to repair the pilots.July 8, 2016 Metrolink approves $1.5 million to repair defective cab cars http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-metrolink-repairsl-20160708-snap-story.html July 9, 2016 Los Angeles Times Metrolink sued the manufacturer a few months later, alleging faulty parts and a breach of contract and warranty.Gunnoe Chase October 5, 2016 Metrolink files in court against cab car builder Hyundai-Rotem Trains Magazine http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/10/05-metrolink-files-lawsuit-against-cab-car-builder November 13, 2020 Trains Newswire en https://web.archive.org/web/20161009113833/http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/10/05-metrolink-files-lawsuit-against-cab-car-builder October 9, 2016 dead Once the repairs were completed, the cars returned to service and the leased BNSF locomotives were returned. The bridge to allow Rice Avenue (SR 1) to pass over the tracks and SR 34, that has long been planned, had a groundbreaking in February 2025.February 22, 2025 Bridge project over dangerous railroad crossing in Oxnard kicks off https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2025/02/22/bridge-project-over-dangerous-railroad-crossing-in-oxnard-rice-avenue-starts-construction/79610820007/ 2025-02-23 Ventura County Star en-US See also Greater Los Angeles Trains List of grade crossing accidents List of rail accidents (2010–2019) 2005 Glendale train crash Valhalla train crash References 30em https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB1607.pdf Highway Accident Brief: Train and Truck Crash on Railroad Right-of-Way and Subsequent Fire November 13, 2020 NTSB/HAB-16/07 External links 2015 Oxnard train derailment Category:2015 in Los Angeles Category:2015 disasters in the United States Category:Derailments in the United States Category:Accidents and incidents involving Metrolink (California) 2015 Oxnard train derailment Category:Railroad crossing accidents in the United States Category:Railway accidents in 2015 Category:February 2015 in the United States