A dog who was rescued from the back seat of a crumpled car after it was struck by a train, killing the driver, has been reunited with his family, Santa Ana police said.
In a tweet, the department said it received several inquiries about Pecas, a black-and-white spotted dog who was taken to an animal hospital after the crash on a stretch of railroad tracks Monday in Santa Ana at South Grand Avenue. Pecas is back home with his family and recovering, police said.
He appeared to have a few scratches, but no major injuries.
The driver of the car was inside crossing gates along the tracks when the Toyota Avalon was struck by a Metrolink train. The car was struck by Los Angeles-bound OC Line Train 689 and sent 682 feet down the tracks.
The driver, identified as 61-year-old Juan Jose Espinoza Padilla, died at the scene.
A witness told police the motorist had "inched up to the tracks."
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"The southbound train passes him and, according to the witness from across the street, he goes, apparently not knowing about a northbound train," Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
No one on the train was injured.
