A woman was killed Thursday in Newhall after she was struck by a train at the Railroad Avenue and 13th Street crossing, according to law enforcement officials.
Deputy Natalie Arriaga, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, confirmed deputies were responding at approximately 10:35 a.m.
“We received a report of a traffic collision with a pedestrian involved,” said Franklin Lopez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, at approximately 10:45 a.m. “We’re on the scene.”
At approximately 11 a.m., Arriaga confirmed that the woman had been killed at the train tracks.
“This is a train versus pedestrian,” said Detective Mark Boskovich, an investigator with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau. “That’s all we know right now.”
The five-car train straddled the intersection at Railroad Avenue and 13th Street while officials including deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, Metrolink and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated the incident. L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office personnel confirmed they had been dispatched to the scene as well, but, as of the publication of this story, they said the identification of the deceased woman was still pending.
“Thirteenth Street and Railroad (Avenue) are closed for now,” said Arriaga at 11:05 a.m. adding that drivers could still head down Railroad Avenue, but could not cross over to 13th Street. “An access gate through Placerita Canyon to Sierra Highway is open.”
Traffic in Placerita Canyon and around the scene was being diverted, and a handful of deputy vehicles could be seen blocking the intersection. Homicide detectives arrived on the scene a couple of minutes before noon and were seen talking with the officials who had initially responded to the call.
Witnesses to the scene reported seeing deputies drape a green tarp around the body, which remained on the gravel ground just under the open door of Metrolink train car No. 198.
“I heard it,” said Rick, a resident of Placerita Canyon. “I heard the train decelerate quickly.”
When detectives arrived, they peered over the top of the green tarp and took photos.
Antelope Valley Metrolink officials stated on Thursday that a number of train lines, involving passengers from the Antelope Valley, to Santa Clarita to Sylmar and San Fernando, were being delayed as a result of the incident.
Those on the train that reportedly struck the woman were seen exiting the Metrolink at approximately 11:30 a.m. Delayed passengers were invited to redeem an Uber voucher for a ride up to $50. For more information on how to redeem the offer, visit https://metrolinktrains.com/ubervouchers.
Metrolink reopened AV Line 218 on track 1 to Los Angeles by its 1:29 p.m. departure time from Newhall.
The cause of the fatal collision remained under investigation as of the publication of this story.
Signal Staff Writers Jim Holt and Chris Torres contributed to this report.
