PICO RIVERA (CNS) – A Metrolink train struck and killed a pedestrian in the Pico Rivera area today, authorities said. The person, described only as a male, was injured about 6:25 a. m. in the area of Spruce Avenue and Whittier Boulevard and died at the scene, said Lt. Joe Mendoza of the sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station. Metrolink train number 403 was en route from Riverside to Los Angeles when it hit the pedestrian, said Scott Johnson of Metrolink. City News Service reporter Bill Hetherman, who was taking the train to work, said he did not feel the impact when the train hit the pedestrian, but the train came to “a complete stop” next to a Chevron facility. Hetherman said that officials did not immediately explain why the train had been stopped but some of the passengers used their smart phones to go online and learn what happened. The passengers were told to remain on the train. Hetherman estimated there were about 50 passengers in the car he was in. They were not provided with food or water for more than three hours following the crash, but there were lavatory facilities available. About 9:40 a. m., according to Hetherman, water was provided to the passengers, who remained on the train during the entire time it was out of service. Service did resume — on the same train — about 10 a. m., according to Hetherman. No one was hurt on the train, Johnson said.
