Man struck and killed by Metro Blue Line train in South Los Angeles

A Metro Blue Line train struck and killed a man at a South Los Angeles crossing today, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said.

The man was hit at about 10 a.m. by the southbound train at the intersection of Vernon Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard and thrown clear of the tracks, according to spokesman Brian Humphrey. "Despite our quick response, the man was sadly beyond our help and died at the scene," he said.

Metro spokeswoman Gayle Anderson said the man was described as a Latino in his 60s. She said the crossing-gate bar would have been down. Both the gate and a light should have stopped the man from crossing.

The speed of the train was unknown, but Anderson said the speed is governed automatically and designed to slow at crossings from the regular rate of 55 mph.

-- Margot Roosevelt

Comments

[Sal B]

I wonder how many people were killed each year when we had the Red Line, etc., trolley cars everywhere?

It seems people in Los Angeles can't get it into their heads that the much-faster moving rail cars of today are deadly and stay off the tracks when trains are coming. Pity!

[Rail history]

Red Cars were so deadly the state regulatory commission threatened to yank their license in the '50s.

[jael villanueva]

this man is my father.ramon villanueva.im so sad.

[Jane Peterson]

The MTA does not care about all the problems that will arise has more people get killed and injured with all the AT GRADE CROSSING they plan for the
future.
They need to go UNDERGROUND at all major streets and school crossing.
Spend the money and keep everyone safe.