Crime & Safety

Boy Struck, Killed by Metrolink Train at Rail Crossing

The accident was reported at 5:58 p.m. at the Madison Street crossing, near Indiana Avenue in Riverside. Serafin Gonzalez, 15, of Riverside died at the scene.

UPDATE 12:10 p.m. Oct. 11:

Authorities today identified a teenage boy who was struck and killed by a Metrolink train at a rail crossing in Riverside.

Serafin Gonzalez, 15, of Riverside died at the scene, the Riverside County Coroner's Bureau reported. The accident was reported at 5:58 p.m. Thursday at the Madison Street crossing, near Indiana Avenue, authorities said.

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Gonzalez, who was on a bicycle, was hit by a train heading from Orange County to San Bernardino, Metrolink's Jeff Lustgarten said. Riverside Fire Department paramedics pronounced the boy dead, and called for a chaplain to counsel his relatives.

The teenager waited for an eastbound train to pass and then -- even though the signal was still activated -- tried to cross the double tracks and was hit by a westbound train, according to Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter, supervisor of the police department's Major Accident Investigation Team.

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"The railroad safety arms were down to indicate the tracks were not clear," Showalter said. "However, the minor continued south, riding his bicycle on the sidewalk area, around the safety arms with no regard for the westbound train on the opposite tracks."

—City News Service

ORIGINAL POST 8 p.m. Oct. 10:

A teenage boy was struck and killed by a Metrolink train at a rail crossing in Riverside today.

The accident was reported at 5:58 p.m. at the Madison Street crossing, near Indiana Avenue.

The victim was hit by a train heading from Orange County to San Bernardino, Metrolink's Jeff Lustgarten said

Riverside Fire Department paramedics pronounced the boy dead at the scene and called for a chaplain to counsel his relatives. The victim appeared to be in his mid-teens, but his name has not been confirmed, Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint said.

The circumstances remained under investigation.

Metrolink was bringing in buses to ferry passengers to the final destination, San Bernardino. That train set was scheduled to serve as Train 334 to Los Angeles tonight, but that trip was canceled and passengers were told to use a later train, Train 336, Lustgarten said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives were assuming the investigation, apparently because of the department's contract with Metrolink, Toussaint said.

Seventy-seven people were aboard the train at the time, according to reports from the scene.

Riverside Fire Department Division Chief Mitch Wesche told City News Service pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists must always be alert at rail crossings.

"I'm not sure what happened here, but too often people go around the crossing arms without realizing that just because one train has passed, all the tracks are clear," Wesche said.

"From a public safety standpoint, keep in mind that there are two sets of tracks. Don't assume that just because one train has gone by, you're clear to cross. Another one could be coming from the other direction and blindside you."

—City News Service


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