A twenty-something year-old man died Thursday night after his car was struck by a Blue Line train in Long Beach, police said.
The Hispanic man, whose name and exact age is being withheld, was driving a 1995 Honda Accord northbound on Long Beach Blvd. at about 8:22PM when he attempted to make a left turn onto 19th St., according to police, despite posted signs saying that turns were not allowed. The vehicle turned directly into the path of the train, which struck the vehicle.
Long Beach Fire Department spokesperson Matt Dobberpuhl said firefighters responded to the scene and attempted to remove the driver from the car, but before he could be removed, he was pronounced dead. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
Three men and one woman who were on the train were transported to the hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Metro Blue Line—one of the busiest light rail lines in the country—was on pace to have one of its deadliest years since opening in 1990. The L.A. Times noted that there have been 22 accidents and six fatalities so far this year, with four of them being ruled as suicides. The most common accident in the rail line’s history are those involving collisions with motor vehicles at street crossings.
Two years ago, a blue line train ran through a stop signal and collided with a police cruiser at Long Beach Blvd. and 16th St., just three blocks from Thursday’s accident.
UPDATED SEPT. 3, 12PM | The Coroner’s Office has identified the man in the Honda Accord as 28 year-old Luis Polanco Caneguez. It was also determined that the train was running at its posted speed of 35 miles per hour when it struck Caneguez’s car.
—Photo: CBSLocal