Car-Train Crash in Long Beach Illustrates Major Drawback to ‘Cheaper’ At-Grade Rail Transit

As some continue to call for a “cheaper” version of Honolulu rail, meaning an at-grade system, it’s useful to post reminders about a significant downside when corners are cut and project goals are compromised. Here’s a reminder from today’s news

(courtesy Contra Costa Times)

of what undoubtedly would happen here if Honolulu were to build a ground-level transit system (see also KTLA video):

LONG BEACH (July 7, 2010) - A police officer was injured Wednesday when his patrol car was crushed during a collision with a Blue Line train near Pacific Coast Highway and Long Beach Boulevard.

The accident occurred at 1:15 p.m. as the southbound train collided with the officer's black-and-white at 16th Street, dragging it dozens of feet before coming to a stop, officials said.

The unidentified officer was extricated from the crumpled vehicle using the "Jaws of Life" and taken to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where his condition was stable, said Long Beach Fire Battalion Chief Frank Hayes.

Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who visited the crash scene within minutes of the accident, said the officer was resting comfortably with family and friends.

"As bad as it looks, we're pretty fortunate," McDonnell said. "We're optimistic that there are no life-threatening injuries."

Several passengers on the train were taken to local hospitals after complaining of neck and back injuries, though their condition didn't appear serious, Hayes said.

It was not immediately clear if the officer was responding to an emergency call or ran a red light when the accident happened. The car was traveling west on 16th Street when it collided with the train.

Buses were organized to carry passengers scheduled to travel on Blue Line trains as crews worked to remove the wreckage and check tracks.

Investigators were on scene from Long Beach Police, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Blue Line's operator, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The accident is the latest in a long line of vehicle-train collisions on Blue Line tracks, which connect downtown Long Beach with downtown Los Angeles.

In April 2008, a 75-year-old woman was killed after turning into a train near downtown Long Beach, and a number of other pedestrians and motorists – including police – have collided with Blue Line trains since the route opened in 1990.

Additional photos are available (courtesy LBPost.com).