Sewage Truck Hit By Amtrak Train, Driver Killed: Monterey County

CASTROVILLE, CA — A northbound Amtrak long-distance train struck a sewage tanker truck in unincorporated Monterey County on Wednesday night, killing the truck's driver, according to officials with Amtrak and the Union Pacific Railroad.

The collision was reported at about 9:13 p.m. at a railroad crossing near state Highway 183 in Castroville, Union Pacific spokesperson Tim McMahan said. The driver of the tanker was killed, but railroad officials didn't say if the person died at the scene or at a hospital.

McMahan said the collision spilled 750 gallons of sewage waste and 50 gallons of diesel fuel. Union Pacific crews were at the scene early Thursday for cleanup.

Amtrak spokesperson Kimberly Woods said no crew members nor 168 passengers aboard the No. 14 Coast Starlight train were injured, but the train did suffer minor damage. The train originated in Los Angeles.

The train remained at the scene as of 4:30 a.m. and was awaiting a crew change with no estimated time of when it would continue its journey to its final destination of Seattle.

—Bay City News