Santa Ana Man Dies After Train Collides With Vehicle, Dog Jumps To Safety
SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — A collision between a train and a vehicle left one person dead in Santa Ana Monday evening.
Orange County Fire Authority responded to the crash that occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Grand Avenue near Hunter Avenue.
A passenger train struck a vehicle that was in an intersection, dragging it more than 600 feet down the track.
"Based on witness statements, there was a train that was southbound," Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, of the Santa Ana Police Department, said. "[Espinoza] stopped, and that train passed, and he accelerated, and we don't know if he didn't see the northbound train, or for what reason he would have accelerated, but he accelerates and is hit by that train."
The single person inside of the vehicle, identified as 61-year-old Juan Espinoza of Santa Ana, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim's family said he ran a printing business and was dropping off product last night when the car was struck by the train. And while Espinoza did not survive, his beloved dog was able to escape and was reunited with the family after being treated by a local veterinarian for minor cuts.
No injuries to anyone on board the train were reported.