TRAIN ACCIDENT: Three people struck by Metro train after sleeping on tracks near Alicia Parkway

September 9, 2010

Mission Viejo – Two people died while another one was moderately injured after they were struck by a train while sleeping on the tracks Thursday morning, authorities said.

Metrolink commuter train 603 was headed for Oceanside from Los Angeles when the accident occurred. Around 6:00 am, the train was making its way on the tracks under Alicia Parkway overcrossing when two young women and a young man were hit, according to spokeswoman Angie Starr.

One of the women was the only survivor of the tragedy. She called 911 to report the accident, county sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said. She suffered non-life threatening injuries, while the bodies of her two friends were found about a quarter of a mile from where they were initially positioned.

Amormino also said that the women met on Facebook and decided to get together. The trio then went drinking at a Santa Ana bar and spent Wednesday night at nearby Laguna Beach. They were also planning to go to a friend’s house in Mission Viejo.

They originally fell asleep inside their car that was parked at a nearby Starbucks. But one of the women got out and headed towards the tracks and the two later followed.

The train’s crew and its 67 passengers were not hurt. They were put on another train to continue their journey, according to Starr.

She added that Metrolink has had problems with people going onto tracks around downtown Los Angeles. "There's been quite a bit of trespassing in this whole region. We have been looking at all our highly dangerous crossings," Star said.

Tracks in the area were closed for investigation, causing delay and suspension of other trains. Passengers between Laguna Niguel and Irvine stations have been taking buses. Investigators will study the train’s events recorder and footage from a camera on the train.