By Terry Miller
Multiple agencies led by the Pasadena Fire Department responded to an early morning train-versus-pedestrian at the Gold Line Allen Station with a report of a person on the tracks, possibly under the train.
Firefighters from station 32 responded at 3:08 a.m. and added Engine 33, Truck 32 and Battalion 3. Upon arrival, Engine 32 made contact with the train conductor and firefighters quickly located the person trapped underneath the train who was still breathing, according to Lisa Derderian, Pasadena Fire spokeswoman.
Battalion 3 instituted the Incident Command System as Allen Incident Command (Allen IC) and requested USAR 32 be attached along with Los Angeles Sherriff’s, LA Metro, and CHP for traffic control on the westbound 210 freeway. LA Metro’s Rail Operations Control (ROC) was requested to respond to shut power off at the substations east and west of the incident, de-couple the cars, and ground the overhead high voltage lines. An additional ambulance was requested (RA33) to evaluate the train conductor (not transported).
Due to the extent of the person’s injuries and the estimated timeframe for the ROC to ensure power to the train was completely shut off, Allen IC requested a Hospital Emergency Response Team (HERT Team) be activated. The HERT Team was en route as was Los Angeles County Fire Copter 11 (with the potential landing zone on the westbound 210 Freeway).
Once power was verified, USAR 32 personnel were able to access the patient. The patient was assessed and packaged onto a backboard and extricated from underneath the train within 12 minutes. The patient was transported via RA32 to Huntington Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The HERT Team and Copter 11 were cancelled.
The scene was released to LASO and LA Metro for further investigation.
