JULY 27, 2009 - A 4-year-old girl riding on a bicycle with her father was killed when they were struck by a San Diego trolley, authorities said. Veronica Ramirez of Chula Vista died while trying to cross the tracks with her father. They were riding west on L Street, just west of Industrial Boulevard, when the accident occurred, according to Chula Vista police. The girl was in a child seat but was not wearing a helmet when the collision occurred about 6:30 p.m., authorities said. Witnesses told police that the father entered the intersection after the automatic arms that prevent vehicles from crossing the tracks had been lowered, authorities said. The father and daughter were thrown about 40 feet down the tracks after the collision, authorities said. The girl was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the accident at Rady Children’s Hospital in Kearny Mesa, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner. The 34-year-old father was being treated at a San Diego Hospital for a broken hip and possible internal injuries, police said. The Metropolitan Transit System, which operates the trolley line, is investigating the trolley accident.
View Larger Map
JULY 13, 2009 - A 52-year-old woman from Escondido died after she was struck by an Orange Line trolley, authorities said. Janet Marie McLaughlin was hit about 3 p.m. by an eastbound trolley, according to the San Diego Police Department. Investigators believe she was distracted by a westbound trolley that had passed her between Fourth and Fifth avenues on C Street, causing her to believe the tracks were clear. The victim had been staying at the Plaza Hotel in downtown San Diego, authorities said. A Metropolitan Transit Spokesman urged pedestrians to look both ways before crossing any railroad tracks. The San Diego Police Department is handling the investigation.
View Larger Map
JUNE 29, 2009 - A man who appeared to be homeless was apparently struck and killed by a trolley near the Morena station, authorities said. The man’s decapitated body was spotted near the tracks by a trolley conductor about 8:40 p.m., according to the San Diego Police Department. Investigators believe a trolley headed west from the Morena station to the Old Towne station about 10 minutes earlier may have hit the man. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the man may have jumped between cars and fallen underneath. A bar at the front of the trolley, which detects when something has been hit, had not been tripped, authorities said. The San Diego County medical’s examiners office said the man appeared to be between the ages of 35 and 45. He appeared to be disheveled, leading investigators to believe he was homeless.
DECEMBER 5, 2008 – A woman driving a 2001 Honda Civic was injured last night when her car was broadsided by a San Diego Trolley. The accident happened at about 8 p.m. The Honda was struck after the woman made a left turn from Cuyamaca Street onto Prospect Avenue, running a red light. The woman, whose name has not been released, suffered a head injury, and the conductor of the trolley and one passenger were not injured. Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the San Diego Trolley crash.
