Commuter train hits RV in fiery collision near Los Angeles

An RV stopped on a track was hit by a commuter train and burst into flames near Los Angeles, causing widespread rail delays at rush hour this morning.

There were no immediate reports of injuries following the fiery collision around 5:30 at an intersection in an industrial area of Santa Fe Springs.

Agency spokesman Scott Johnson says passengers and crew on Metrolink's OC Line 681 were safely evacuated. Investigators will try to determine why the RV was stopped on the track.

He says "Our engineer went into emergency stop procedures but unfortunately was unable to stop in time." It wasn't immediately known how fast the train was moving.

Fire crews doused the flames, which gutted the RV and charred a rail car on a freight train stopped on a parallel track.

BNSF maintains the tracks in the area. Spokeswoman Lena Kent says the freight train was also unable to stop in time and ran over some of the crash debris.

She says the collision occurred at a crossing equipped with gates and flashing lights. It wasn't clear if the RV tried to drive around the gates.

OC Line 681 with five passenger cars was heading north from Orange County when the crash happened about 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Johnson says buses were ordered to take 120 evacuated passengers to LA's Union Station. Widespread delays were expected on Metrolink's Orange County and 91/Perris Valley lines.