3 critically injured after Sacramento light rail train hits car in Rancho Cordova
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- A Sacramento Regional Transit light rail train struck a car Thursday in Rancho Cordova.
- Three people suffered critical injuries and were taken by ambulance to a hospital.
- RT officials said the crash was due to a driver who went around the downed crossing arms.
Three people suffered serious injuries Thursday when a Sacramento Regional Transit light rail train struck a car, pushing the vehicle into the center of the rail line in Rancho Cordova.
The crash involving the RT light rail train and the car was reported about 5:20 p.m. near the intersection of Mills Park Drive and Folsom Boulevard.
Firefighters arrived and found the car that had been struck by the light rail train, and the impact of the crash pushed the car into the center of the rail line, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District announced in a news release.
The firefighters took three injured people out of the wrecked car. Firefighters had to free one of the car’s occupants whose foot was pinned inside the vehicle, Metro Fire officials said.
The three occupants in the vehicle suffered critical injuries in the crash and were taken by ambulance to a hospital, fire officials said. Metro Fire released photos of the crash, which show what appears to be a dark gray Toyota Prius that was stuck.
The Rancho Cordova Police Department and RT were investigating the crash. In a Thursday evening social media post, RT officials said the crash was “due to the driver of a car going around the downed crossing arms and colliding with a Folsom bound train.”
A bus bridge was put in place on the Gold Line between the Mather Field/Mills and Sunrise RT stations to help riders get to their destinations.
Metro Fire officials said it was unclear how long the light rail line and nearby roads would remain closed as investigators and authorities worked at the scene. Fire officials reminded drivers to use caution when approaching and crossing rail lines, and to always remain aware of their surroundings.
