1 person killed and 2 people injured after collision with light rail

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — One person was killed and two others were seriously injured Thursday evening after a light rail train collided with a vehicle in Rancho Cordova, authorities said.

The crash occurred around 5:20 p.m. near the intersection of Folsom Boulevard and Mills Park Drive, involving a train operated by the Sacramento Regional Transit District.

According to officials, the vehicle drove around activated crossing arms and entered the path of the oncoming train. The train struck the car, leaving all three occupants with critical injuries.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported the victims to a nearby hospital. One of the occupants later died from their injuries, while the other two remain hospitalized with severe injuries.

Authorities confirmed that no passengers on the train were hurt in the collision.

Investigators with the Rancho Cordova Police Department are working to determine why the driver attempted to bypass the crossing gates. Officials say the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The incident temporarily disrupted light rail service in the area as crews cleared the scene and began their investigation.

Officials are reminding drivers to obey all railroad crossing signals, noting that trains require significantly longer distances to stop and cannot quickly avoid vehicles on the tracks.