OAKLAND — A tractor operator doing maintenance work on railroad tracks was badly injured Friday morning when his machine was hit by an Amtrak train in East Oakland, authorities said.
A least two people on the train were also injured but to what extent was not immediately known. More than 30 passengers and crew were on the train.
The collision happened about 11:05 a.m. Friday on the tracks in the area of 50th Avenue and East Eighth Street, police said.
Authorities said the front loader tractor, owned by Union Pacific Railroad and operated by a company employee, was on the middle of three track lines doing maintenance work when it was hit by Capitol Corridor Train 531 enroute to San Jose and knocked for some distance. The operator had to be extricated from the mangled wreckage, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital with major injuries but his condition was still not known Friday afternoon.
The collision caused a fuel leak of more than 100 gallons from the train. Fire department hazmat crews were called to the scene initially and they were eventually relieved by railroad workers to do clean-up, authorities said.
Train service was still halted at 2 p.m. Friday and it was not known when it might resume.
The collision is being investigated by the National Transportation and Safety Board and CalOsha, authorities said.
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