Update: Empire man killed after SUV collides with train at Yosemite and Santa Fe
An Empire man was killed after a train collided with his SUV on Tuesday afternoon near Yosemite and Santa Fe avenues in Empire.
The collision occurred about 3:25 p.m. The 60-year-old man was traveling west on Yosemite in a silver 2003 GMC Yukon and drove onto the tracks as the crossing arms were coming down, California Highway Patrol Officer Aaron Keller said at the scene.
He stopped in the middle of the tracks, where his SUV was broadsided by the northbound train. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the SUV, a CHP news release says.
Keller said the man was taken to Memorial Medical Center.
A few hours later, Clint Bray, battalion chief for the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, confirmed the man had died.
The CHP release said it’s not been determined if alcohol or drugs factored in the crash.
This story was originally published March 9, 2021 at 5:34 PM.
