Man, 80, Crashes Motorcycle Into Railroad Crossing Gate

GARDEN GROVE (CBS) —  An 80-year-old man crashed a scooter-style motorcycle into a railroad crossing gate in Garden Grove Tuesday as a train approached, but managed to escape major injuries, police said.

John Jones of Westminster was eastbound on Lampson Avenue about 10:30 a.m. when he crashed the Suzuki Burgman 650 into the railroad arm east of Western Avenue as a Union Pacific train approached.

Garden Grove police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said the crew stopped the train in time and got off to help Jones, who was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

Jones told police the sun got into his eyes, so he didn't see that the lights and signals were activated as the railroad crossing arm came down, Nightengale said.

Jones was alert and talking to officers at the scene, Nightengale said.

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