No Injuries as Train Strikes Pickup Truck
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Two South County residents avoided injury when their pickup truck was sideswiped early Sunday by a Santa Fe Railway train, authorities said.
John Valdez, 30, of Dana Point and Shay Murphy, 26, of San Juan Capistrano were taking a shortcut adjacent to the Metrolink tracks about 3:45 a.m., said Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Charles Walters.
Shay got out of the truck, but Valdez kept driving alongside the tracks and a passing train “clipped the truck” when it got too close, Walters said.
The accident, which was investigated by agents of the Santa Fe Railway and Metrolink, occurred about 100 yards south of Stonehill Drive.
The truck was extensively damaged, Walters said.
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