LOCAL : Train Hits Car in Simi Valley

An Amtrak passenger train hit a car carrying a mother and her infant son at a Simi Valley railroad crossing where workers had earlier dismantled barrier gates, but no one was injured, authorities said this morning.

The eastbound train struck the rear of a car driven by Marilyn Austria, 33, about 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Sequoia Avenue rail crossing near Los Angeles Street, Police Lt. Neal Rein said. Austria and her 2-month-old son, Brian, who was in a car seat, were shaken but unhurt, police said.

The wooden crossing arms at the intersection had been taken down earlier Wednesday because high winds threatened to break them, Rein said. But all the other flashing lights and warning devices were working at the crossing.