Union Pacific Railroad Worker Killed by Metrolink Train in El Monte, CA

March 23rd, 2010 |

EL MONTE, CA – A Union Pacific railroad worker was killed by a Metrolink train at the Temple Avenue crossing near Valley Boulevard and the 605 Freeway in El Monte, California. The train accident occurred Saturday morning, March 20, 2010 at about 9:20 am. El Monte is located about 13 1/2 miles east of Los Angeles, in southern California. In the accident, three passengers on the train were also injured, although their injuries were not reported as life threatening.

Site of the Metrolink train crash El Monte, CA that killed a Union Pacific railroad worker and injured three other passengers on the train. Photo Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

The deceased railroad worker, whose name has not been released, was on a railway crossing when the Union Pacific maintenance truck he was sitting in was struck by the Metrolink train.

There are a number of reasons why the deceased railroad worker would have been in that area, such as inspecting the tracks. A Union Pacific spokesperson did point out that he was responsible for maintaining Union Pacific’s tracks.

Location of train accident at Temple Avenue, near Valley Boulevard and the 605 Freeway in El Monte, CA where a railroad worker was killed.

A Metrolink spokesperson said that officials could not explain why the truck was in the path of the train, or whether the truck was parked or moving at the time of the collision, but at the site of the crash, the Union Pacific’s tracks and the Metrolink tracks run just parallel to each other.

The Union Pacific spokesperson emphasized that safety is a focus for the company and that they were shocked and saddened by the accident.

Train traffic on the San Bernardino line was stopped for much of the day, Saturday, and officials set up a bus bridge to detour Metrolink passengers around the crash site.

The railway crossing straddles the unincorporated community of Bassett and the City of Industry. It is located at Temple Avenue, near Valley Boulevard and the 605 Freeway, east of the San Gabriel River.

STREET VIEW

Below is a Google Street view of the railway crossing at Temple Avenue. You can click and drag the mouse button to pan around the area in all directions.

View Larger Map

Gordon &amp Elias, LLP, is a top nationwide FELA lawyer law firm representing railroad workers injured on the job who need experienced lawyers knowledgeable in the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). FELA is not workers compensation and it governs the employee’s right to recovery or, unfortunately in this death, FELA governs the rights and remedies of the family members. For more information about FELA and FELA rights, contact an experienced California FELA lawyer through Gordon &amp Elias, LLP for expert advice. Call toll free 800.773.6770.