Contra Costa County

3 Dead in Car Versus Train Accident Near Brentwood

NBC Universal, Inc.

An Amtrak train running through unincorporated Brentwood smashed into a car containing five people Sunday afternoon at a private crossing with no gates, killing three and leaving an adult and a child hospitalized with "major injuries."

A spokesman for the East Contra Costa County Fire District said the call came in at 1:01 p.m. about a collision in the 3000 block of Orwood Road, on a dirt road. The tracks are owned by BNSF Railway.

"It's not uncommon that we've had accidents at that crossing," spokesman Steve Aubert said.

According to Amtrak, there were 89 passengers and crew on board the train that hit the car. None of them was injured. But the accident did delay service for three hours while firefighters and railroad investigators examined the site.

East Contra Costa County fire officials said, in addition to the dead, a man was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and a child was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Relatives told NBC Bay Area that he is 8 years old.

Officials from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol said BNSF officials are handling the investigation.

Residents told NBC Bay Area Sunday this is not the first time a deadly train accident has happened in the area.

“I know years ago, someone close to one of our family members died here too. So, it's been multiple accidents,” Maria Lopes said.

Off-camera, relatives told NBC Bay Area that the family in the car was attending a memorial to help raise money for funeral expenses of a man who recently died.

“There’s going to be a lot more funerals now. And it’s just sad,” Lopes said.

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