Motorist dies in collision with Amtrak train in Solano County

A motorist died in a collision with an eastbound Amtrak train in Solano County on Tuesday afternoon.

The collision occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at the Batavia Road crossing, west of Dixon, said Officer Dave Harvey of the California Highway Patrol’s Solano Office.

Harvey said the collision involved a sedan and the driver was the sole occupant.

Kimberly Woods, an Amtrak spokeswoman, said in an email that Amtrak Capitol Corridor Train 532 collided with a vehicle that was on the tracks. She said 55 passengers were aboard the train at the time and there were no reports of injuries to passengers or crew members.

“Service has been temporarily suspended as local law enforcement investigates the incident,” Woods said.

Doug Kelly of Sacramento was aboard the train when the collision occurred.

“I was staring out the window, and suddenly I heard a loud bang and saw dark-colored debris flying around,” Kelly said in a phone interview.

Kelly said he initially thought the train had struck an object on the tracks and didn’t realize it was a vehicle. He said the vehicle was wedged beneath the train.

Kelly reported that passengers left the Batavia Road site at 6:30 p.m. and were being taken by vans to Sacramento.

This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Motorist dies in collision with Amtrak train in Solano County."