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Tag: scott johnson

  • Pedestrian fatally struck by Metrolink train in Northridge

    Pedestrian fatally struck by Metrolink train in Northridge

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    A pedestrian was fatally struck early Monday by a Metrolink commuter train in Northridge, according to officials.

    The person was hit in a “non-pedestrian area” on the tracks just before 5:30 a.m., according to Scott Johnson, a spokesperson for Metrolink. No one else was injured, but the southbound train on the Ventura County line was halted and removed from service.

    The 60 passengers on board were assisted off and provided alternative transportation through ride-sharing apps, Johnson said.

    The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the incident, which occurred on the tracks near Corbin Avenue and Bahama Street, according to Officer Norma Eisenman, an LAPD spokesperson. The person who was killed had not yet been publicly identified.

    “The tracks are still closed as officials respond,” Johnson said. That section of the railway between Chatsworth and Northridge remains closed, causing delays to Metrolink’s Ventura County line and the Pacific Surfliner, he said. Rail service will resume once the LAPD and the coroner’s office clear the scene.

    “We want to remind everyone in the community to stay off the tracks,” Johnson said.

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    Grace Toohey

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  • After San Clemente landslide halted train service, agency will tap emergency funds

    After San Clemente landslide halted train service, agency will tap emergency funds

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    The Orange County Transportation Authority is getting emergency aid to repair train tracks in San Clemente after a landslide that halted service indefinitely between Orange and San Diego counties.

    On Thursday, Caltrans issued an emergency declaration as a result of the recent landslide. Passenger train service was stopped between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations, which are used by Metrolink and Amtrak passengers.

    “The hillside still is moving, which is why passenger rail service hasn’t resumed,” said Scott Johnson, director of communications for Metrolink. He said, however, measures were taken to brace the hillside above the tracks before Thursday’s storm set in.

    The emergency declaration allows the OCTA, which owns that section of the rail line, to access up to $10 million in immediate emergency repair funding.

    On Jan. 24, track personnel observed debris and dirt falling onto the track, prompting the closure, Johnson told The Times on Thursday.

    Ahead of this week’s storm, “there was a significant amount of excavation and grading that took place,” Johnson said, “along with efforts to restore an extensive culvert system.”

    Workers placed tubes, pipes, ballast and rock as well as tarping to brace for the rain.

    Teams were “out there throughout the day Wednesday,” he said. “They do continue to see movement, but no significant debris has fallen onto the track.”

    Some freight trains are still allowed to use the track between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. but at drastically reduced speeds, he said.

    Despite the emergency declaration and impending funding, there is still no timeline as to when passenger rail service will resume.

    This isn’t the first time in recent years that the tracks have been closed due to a landslide. A similar incident occurred in April.

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    Karen Garcia

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  • Metrolink passenger car in Antelope Valley sprayed with bullets as gunfire erupts nearby

    Metrolink passenger car in Antelope Valley sprayed with bullets as gunfire erupts nearby

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    A gunman sprayed a Metrolink train with bullets late Wednesday night at a Palmdale station, leaving two people hospitalized and a passenger car pocked with holes.

    The shooting occurred near the platform where the northbound Antelope Valley Line train 229 was departing for Lancaster. Authorities said two people outside the train were hit as bullets also struck the passenger car.

    The train’s passengers reported the gunfire, said Scott Johnson.

    One of the shooting victims was wounded in a hip and the other in a calf, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Stowers. Their injuries were not life-threatening, he said. Emergency responders took them to a hospital for treatment.

    Some media outlets said a woman injured her head while dodging gunfire, but Stowers was unable to confirm those reports.

    Authorities had no information on what led to the incident or the identity of the shooter as detectives continued their investigation.

    The train experienced a nearly one-hour delay as L.A. County sheriff’s deputies conducted the investigation. Metrolink has removed the bullet-damaged passenger car from service.

    No other Metrolink services were affected.

    When asked about safety concerns among passengers who take the Antelope Valley Line, Scott said, “Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and armed security officers regularly ride Antelope Valley Line trains to provide safety and security.”

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    Anthony De Leon

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