GUADALUPE, Calif. — The vehicle driver has died and three passengers were injured in a Wednesday (Oct. 1) collision between Amtrak’s northbound Coast Starlight and a tank truck carrying diesel fuel in rural Santa Barbara County
The local website Noozhawk reports the incident occurred about 4:15 p.m., with Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck reporting the diver was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria with major injuries, while the passengers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. About 260 people were on board the train, according to the Fire Department.
The California Highway Patrol later confirmed that the driver had died. KSBY-TV reports authorities identified the driver as Santiago Saucedo, 58, of Santa Maria.
The CHP said the accident occurred at a private grade crossing on agricultural land, and spilled some 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel from the truck; cleanup was still ongoing as of Thursday.
The Starlight’s trip north of San Luis Obispo was cancelled, with passengers returned to their points of origin by bus, according to an Amtrak social media post. The southbound Starlight that had departed Seattle on Tuesday was cancelled between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles; Thursday’s northbound Starlight operated as scheduled, as did the Wednesday and Thursday departures from Seattle.
Pacific Surfliner service to and from San Luis Obispo was also affected, with one round trip cancelled on Thursday.
