Coast Starlight hits truck in Ventura County CA, partially derails (6/28/23)

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Late to the party, but I just found this website while researching an answer to a question I had that was related to this incident. I was on board 14 that day. For anyone who’s wondered what it would be like to live through a derailment, I’ll give my account.

I was in the first coach, right behind the baggage car, chatting with my seatmate about how relaxing it is to take Amtrak and just watch the scenery go by when Boom!! I knew right away something was seriously wrong— it seemed as if we had somehow uncoupled from the baggage car and then slammed into it from the rear, but within a second I realized it was the sound of the lead truck on our car hitting the ground. The car began to lean to the left, and I remember two words going through my mind: stay upright. We righted and began to lean right: Stay Upright. Once more leaning to the left: stay upright! We ground to a stop before the lead locomotive reached the next crossing, a distance of about 1000 feet from impact with a county water truck that was obstructing the crossing.

There was immediately a smell of smoke in the coach, which to me smelled like overheated brake shoes. I don’t recall any extra horn blasts or going into emergency, though one of the car attendants said he was thrown forward when we dumped the air. Some people panicked a bit at the smoke and wanted to get out as quickly as possible, though a car attendant soon yelled through the car that we were to evacuate the train in an orderly fashion. I grabbed my overnight bag and my carryon from the overhead and made my way down the stairs and out. There was no platform, of course, and the attendants didn’t have the stepstool out, so it was a bit of a drop to the ballast. I handed each of my bags to the two attendants, turned around 180 degrees, grabbed the grabirons on the sides of the door and lowered myself down. There was apparently a small fire under the baggage car, as a train crew member blasted it with a fire extinguisher. I did not see any flames, so it might have been just smoking brake shoes.

My first thought was to see if any cars went on their side. The diner and following sleeper were leaning badly but stayed upright. From what I could see, every car in the consist, not just six, had wheels on the ground as the rails had spread. In short order, emergency crews— fire trucks, ambulances, and police— were on the scene and those of us towards the front of the train were asked to walk west to the next grade crossing, about 300 feet in front of the locomotive, then down a side road next to a small industry, Pentair Water Group. It seems likely that the water truck driver we hit was coming from that facility. The passengers towards the rear were directed east and over the crossing where the collision occurred.

We were interviewed by Amtrak personnel and by EMT responders. If you were not injured, you received a blue ribbon around your wrist to signify you had been accounted for and did not need medical attention. I somehow broke a fingernail, but was otherwise okay. Fifteen people, including the truck driver, were taken by ambulance to a hospital, but thirteen were treated and released. Later, one passenger collapsed as we were boarding buses to take us back to LA and was taken to the hospital, but my understanding is he was not admitted.

After standing around for a hour and seeing what coverage was online from the three circling news choppers about our little mishap, someone produced bottles of water and snacks, and the fire crews set up portable tents to provide us with shade. The plan was to move us to Moorpark City Hall/Community Center, but that took until about 3pm before city buses showed up. One exception was a woman who was traveling to Oxnard, where her daughter from Moorpark was to pick her up. Her daughter lived about three blocks from the accident site! Her daughter swung by and picked mom up.

Once at City Hall, it was about an hour until an Amtrak rep announced they were rounding up motor coaches to take us back to LA Union Station. Meanwhile, the Red Cross showed up with more water and snacks. They said actual food was on its way (we all missed lunch), but we were on our way back to LA before that happened. Once back at Union Station around 6pm, we were escorted to the central courtyard and lined up to complete a form, then had an intake agent ask if we needed to notify family and to ask what our destination was so they could sort out the best way to get everyone to where they were going. They did have soda and Subway sandwiches piled up.

I told the intake agent I was going to San Jose and had planned on being there bright and early the next morning. He told me it would be about two more hours while they waded through 200 passengers to determine the best option in each case. I told him with the 6+ hours of time on my hands since the accident, I determined my best option was a cheap 9:15pm flight from LAX to SJC, but if they couldn’t decide quickly, I’d miss the flight and they’d end up paying about what the flight cost in just getting me a hotel room overnight, not to mention getting me to San Jose the next day. He said I had the option to pay out of pocket for that (plus transportation to and from each airport), then file a claim for reimbursement, but my proposal seemed reasonable. I grabbed a couple of sandwiches and a ginger ale and headed for the airport.

I did receive a refund of the ticket cost, but since I was using the California Railpass, they prorated one day of travel out of a possible seven and I got $23 back. I’m still waiting for reimbursement for my air and Uber.
 
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I’d say better than half. Of course, checked bags were in the baggage car, and some grabbed what was with them in their seat. Others just wanted off the train and left everything. The train crew did go through all the cars and anything loose was brought to LA, where passengers could sort through the pile and claim what was theirs. I’m not sure if what was in the baggage car went into the pile or if it could be picked up at the baggage carousel as normal— I think it went into the pile.
 
Has there been any explanation (particularly from the driver) as to why the tanker was blocking the track? High centered? Or inattention? Or playing the radio too loudly?

And does the driver still have a job?
 
Shanson said:
Has there been any explanation (particularly from the driver) as to why the tanker was blocking the track? High centered? Or inattention? Or playing the radio too loudly?

And does the driver still have a job?
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I haven’t heard. My impression was that he pulled out in front of the train, as there was not any significant slowdown or frantic horn action before the collision. He was fortunate enough to be hospitalized in serious condition and not killed. He was conscious, so I’m sure he gave his story to the cops and NTSB.
 
Did the people on the first sleeper with quite a lean to it get out on the uphill side, or did they appear to get out of sleeper 2, or ??? It looks unstable. 🙃
 
UserNameRequired said:
Did the people on the first sleeper with quite a lean to it get out on the uphill side, or did they appear to get out of sleeper 2, or ??? It looks unstable. 🙃
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That, I don’t know. I was towards the front and figured I should stay out of the way of any emergency crews, so I didn’t go down there.
 
The consist is still in Oxnard yard, I think they broke it in 2 recently or maybe because of other cars I was unable to see 4 cutoff from the rear
 
Thank you so much for providing such a detailed, well-written account of what it is like to be onboard an Amtrak passenger train that is involved in a derailment. (At the time this incident occurred, we were traveling east on Southwest Chief No. 4 and heard the dispatcher inform the conductor of our train that an Amtrak train had derailed in California.)

Fortunately, the none of the cars ended up on their sides as was the case when, on June 27, 2022, SWC No. 4 derailed after hitting a truck near Mendon, Missouri. (With the exception of the two engines, the entire consist ended up on its side.)

Your account provided the first real information we’ve read on what it is like to be onboard a Superliner coach during a derailment, the evacuation of passengers from the train (including actions and assistance provided by onboard Amtrak personnel), the support provided by the first responders and the Red Cross, being processed and interviewed by law enforcement and Amtrak investigators, being transported back to the point of train’s origin, how baggage was handled, etc.

Your first-hand account of what all went down is invaluable to those of us who like to know in advance what to expect if and when situations like this occur.

Thank you again for your post.
 
I’m certain I was recalling the Mendon wreck, almost exactly one year earlier and similar circumstances, as I was silently pleading with the cars to stay upright. I wish I could say I had a plan of action devised if they did tip over, but it happened too quickly for me to think that far ahead.

I’m still waiting for Amtrak to reimburse me for my alternate transportation. It wasn’t a huge amount in my case, but a word to the wise for anyone who finds themselves in the same situation— let Amtrak handle the details of getting you to your destination if you can help it and want to avoid the hassle.
 

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