SUV drives around gate into Calif. train, 3 die

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Officials test the signals and lights at an intersection where an SUV and light-rail train collided Saturday in Sacramento, Calif. Authorities said a man, a woman and a baby in the SUV were killed after it went around crossing gates. | STEVE YEATER~AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A light-rail train collided with a sport utility vehicle Saturday in Sacramento, killing a man, a woman and a baby and injuring seven other people, authorities said.

Fire and transit officials say video of the crash shows the SUV driver went around the crossing’s guardrail.

The three dead were in the Nissan Pathfinder hit by the train at a crossing at about 4 p.m., city fire Assistant Chief Niko King said.

The man and woman, both in their 40s, died at the scene and the baby was pronounced dead at a hospital, King said. He did not know the relationships between the three, and their names were not immediately released.

A 30-year-old woman who was in the SUV was in serious condition at a hospital, and six people from the train were hospitalized with minor injuries, King said.

About 50 people were aboard the train when it hit the Pathfinder, pushing the vehicle about 30 yards down the track.

“All I heard was a big bang,” said Ravin Pratab, 42, of Davis, whose car was among those waiting for the train at the rail crossing. “And I saw a light-rail train heading south with a big truck smashed on it.”

Investigators looked at video from cameras at the crossing and on the front of the train, King said. The footage showed that a freight train had already passed the intersection, but the guardrail arms remained down because the light-rail train was on its way, he said.

It appeared that the driver of the SUV was going around the crossing arms, which were working properly, he said.

“The assumption now is the vehicle went around the arms,” King said.

AP