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Mother and Infant Killed by Metro Light Rail in Monrovia
Monrovia Weekly Apr 15, 2020
The grim scene at the Duarte Road and California Avenue Gold Line crossing Wednesday morning where a mother and infant died attempting to cross the tracks despite an oncoming train. - Photo by Terry Miller/Beacon Media News
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Atapproximately 8:40 a.m. a young mother and child attempted to cross therailroad tracks at California Avenue and Duarte Road on foot despite thecautionary bells and clangs that indicate a train is in the immediate area
Multipleagencies for Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, L.A. County Sheriff’s and UrbanSearch and Rescue coordinated the rescue efforts as part of a mutual aid agreementwith Verdugo Dispatch.
According toRamon Montenegro, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Bureau public information officer, thearriving first responders and paramedics declared the two victims dead at 9 a.m.The train was operating on the L Line, formerly known as the Gold Line, and wasgoing northbound from the Monrovia Station when it hit the pedestrians,Montenegro said.
Rail servicewas interrupted between the Monrovia and Duarte stations, and buses were beingbrought in to accommodate passengers, according to Metro.
According toreports, the train was pulling out of Myrtle station en route to Duarte whenthe mother attempted to cross the tracks despite all the usual precautionaryand safety deterrents in place.
In adesperate attempt to save the child’s life, the mother allegedly threw herdaughter out of harm’s way, or so she thought. The child did not survive andthe deceased mother was pinned under one of the L Line cars.
Heavyequipment was brought in to assist with the raising of the train and recoveryof the body.
There wereno immediate reports of other injuries in this incident. The identities of thedeceased mother and child were not immediately available.
All L Linetrains in both directions will be out of service while the investigationcontinues.
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