The truck driver was injured, CBSLosAngeles reports; there were no riders in the train since it’s still in the testing phase. The westbound train derailed after hitting the truck, which Santa Monica police said had made the turn illegally from westbound Colorado onto southbound 7th. There were no fatalities or life-threatening injuries reported, however, the truck driver had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. A driver and two other officials were onboard the train at the time of the incident, police said.
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The train came off its tracks in the accident but remained upright.
Traffic in the area along northbound Cloverfield Boulevard just south of the train backup had already been jammed as the entrance to the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway was shut down for roadway work.
The Expo Line testing is slated to continue December 14-15. These tests have been running for months as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) prepares to open the Santa Monica extension to the public in the spring of 2016.
The Expo Line extension is separated from traffic along much of the route, but there are some segments within Santa Monica and at Westside crossings such as Barrington Avenue and Westwood Boulevard where the trains will be at street grade. Cole said, “We have a lot of education and some enforcement to do”.
“They found a tractor trailer carrying a light load of wood attempting to make a turn at the intersection of 7th and Colorado”, Van Sluis said.
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The Expo Line cost $2.5 billion and runs 15.2 miles, which includes three stations in Santa Monica.
