File:Pacific Surfliner V Cadillac Deville (6144584814).jpg

FULLERTON California July 12, 2011 –While travelling from San Diego to Santa Barbara our train hit a car that was abandoned on the railroad track - There was a loud screeching and the train rocked violently then a car appeared outside my window seat in a cloud of dust as the train stopped - Apparently a man was pulled from the vehicle several minutes before it was struck by our Amtrak train in Fullerton . The driver of the Cadillac was traveling westbound on Commonwealth Avenue just after 2 p.m. apparently ran a red light and was struck by an SUV in the Basque Avenue intersection, Fullerton police Capt. Alex Bastreri said. Police say the Cadillac was forced off the roadway, but continued traveling through a chain link fence, across a dirt parking lot, through a second chain link fence Hit a track switch and finally stopped on the train tracks. Jonathon Cuevas and Hector Encinas, both employees with the city of Fullerton’s maintenance department, were driving in the area when they saw a Cadillac on the tracks, as well as a damaged vehicle on Commonwealth. The two city workers joined several other witnesses in pulling a man from the vehicle. “This guy was on the tracks, so we figured get him out as soon as possible,” Cuevas said. “He said his legs were hurt, but he was conscious.” Authorities say the Cadillac was struck less than three minutes after the man was pulled from the car. Police have not identified the driver of the Cadillac, describing him only as a man in his late 70s. Neither driver suffered major injuries, police said. About 200 people were on the Amtrak train that struck the Cadillac, but no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed, Train traffic through the area was briefly shut down,we eventually made it to Los Angeles Station there was very little damage to the train as you can see below...