A pregnant woman was killed and four other people were injured after a Metrolink train collided with a car crossing railroad tracks in Glendale, California, authorities said.
Police said the crash happened around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, as a Metrolink train traveling from the Antelope Valley toward downtown Los Angeles approached the crossing near West San Fernando Road and Broadway. Investigators say the driver tried to turn from West San Fernando Road onto Broadway—crossing the tracks in the process—when the vehicle was struck by Metrolink train 206, according to a police statement shared on Facebook.
The driver, identified by authorities and FOX Los Angeles as 35-year-old Zukhra Kurbanova, was pronounced dead at the scene. ABC7 and KTLA reported that Kurbanova was pregnant.
Police said a man walking nearby was hit by debris from the crash. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, and he was transported to a local hospital.
Metrolink told local outlets that three passengers on the train also reported injuries. One was taken to a hospital, while two others were treated by emergency personnel aboard the train.
Video from local news coverage showed first responders surrounding the wreckage as a heavily damaged silver sedan sat on the tracks with airbags deployed and the crossing arms down.
“There are approximately 150 passengers on train 206, though no injuries have been reported aboard at this time,” the rail operator told ABC7 in a statement.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office told the publication that the woman who died was a Glendale resident and that an examination has been scheduled.
When reached for comment, the Glendale Police Department said it could not release the victim’s identity until the coroner’s portion of the investigation is complete.
“Additionally, this complex investigation will require some more time and our traffic investigator’s opinion as to why will be deferred until then,” the department added. “We do have knowledge that the arms at the tracks were in fact operational and operating at the time the driver made the right turn.”
Metrolink said service impacts followed the crash: Trains 207 and 208 on the Antelope Valley Line were canceled for the day, along with trains 320 and 341 on the San Bernardino Line. Buses were used to shuttle riders between stations in place of regular service.
