Coroner IDs Bicyclist Hit, Killed By SMART Train In Rohnert Park

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A bicyclist who was struck and killed by a Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit train Friday in Rohnert Park was identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Gary Raymond Danning, 66, of Petaluma. Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers responded to a 911 call received at 6:42 a.m. that a bicyclist had just been struck by a SMART train at the Golf Course Drive rail crossing, according to Rohnert Park DPS Deputy Chief Aaron Johnson.

Danning was found deceased about 75 feet south of the intersection, Johnson said.

Investigators reviewed the SMART train's on-board video, which Johnson said showed Danning was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk going the wrong way— west on the south side of Golf Course Drive — with his head down, hood over his head and what appeared to be headphones on.

"When [Danning] reached the edge of the tracks, it appears that he notices the train at the last minute and tries to dismount his bicycle to get out of the way," Johnson said. "The train operator saw the cyclist entering the intersection and began sounding the horn."

Based on the proximity of the train, Danning was struck and killed, according to Rohnert Park DPS.

All warning devices on the train and at the crossing were operational, authorities said.

It was the second fatality in two days involving a SMART train at the Golf Course Drive rail crossing.

The same Rohnert Park DPS personnel who responded to Friday's fatal incident also responded Thursday morning, June 27, when a 30-year-old woman from Stanislaus County was struck by a SMART train as she tried to run across the tracks, Johnson said.

"These incidents are tragic for everyone involved," Johnson said, expressing condolences on behalf of Rohnert Park DPS to family members of the deceased as well as the involved SMART staff.

SMART, Rohnert Park DPS and the sheriff's office are conducting a joint investigation of the two fatalities last week.

SMART has had six train-related fatalities system-wide — half of them at the Golf Course Drive rail crossing — according to a local news report. Officials with SMART and the city of Rohnert Park revisited the intersection Monday to discuss potential safety enhancements, the Petaluma Argus Courier reported.

Tuesday afternoon, SMART Spokeswoman Jeanne Mariani-Belding sent the following statement to Patch:

"Our hearts go out to these families, and to everyone involved, including our engineers. In both these cases, all of the safety warning devise were working properly. We had the flashing red lights, the bells, the crossing gates were down and we even have stencils on the sidewalk urging people to watch for trains. When it comes to safety, if there is anything more we can do, we will get it done. We’re in the process of adding physical barriers called Z gates, on the sidewalks at some crossings, which we hope will prompt people to stop, and to pay attention to the warning devices. We really want to urge everyone to please be alert and aware near all tracks and trains, and please pay attention to the warning devices, they are there for your safety."