(Oakland, California – May 1, 2011)
An as-yet unidentified female was struck and killed Sunday morning at 7:37 A.M. by a southbound Sacramento-to-San Jose Amtrak train at the 37th Street crossing. The Union Pacific Railroad tracks are about three miles south of Amtrak’s Jack London Square station.
The victim walked across the tracks at the crossing even though the crossing’s lights, gates and bells were allegedly operating. “These kinds of events are always tragic, for both the trespasser and for our crew members who are involved,” said Amtrak spokesman Mark Magliari. This is a typical coloring of the incident by railroad spokespersons in referring to the victim as a trespasser even though she crossed at a designated grade crossing.