San Bernardino man, 63, hit by a train

David Acosta, 63, of San Bernardino was seriously injured by a passing train in Moorpark at around 10:20 a.m. Wed., Dec. 26.

The man was in the ticketing area on the central platform between two sets of railroad tracks at the Metrolink train station on High Street. He was waiting for the eastbound train to San Bernardino, according to authorities.

Acosta was apparently standing too close to the westbound tracks as a westbound train was approaching, according to a sheriff's department report.

The Amtrak engineer reported that he blew the horn as a warming; however, Acosta failed to move far enough away from the tracks and the train was unable to stop before striking him.

He sustained injuries to the head, chest and one hand but was still conscious as he was rushed to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, said Sgt. Craig Smith of the Moorpark Police Department.

Preliminary reports indicate the man was hit by the left side of the engine of an oncoming passenger train. The victim probably fell or was pulled by a rush of air toward the train, said Smith.

"If you stand too close to the tracks, the wind generated by passing trains which go about 60 to 70 miles per hour, can pull you toward the train," Smith said.

- - Sylvie Belmond