METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NTSB opens docket on 2015's Calif. Metrolink crash

The accident happened when a commuter train carrying 51 passengers and three crewmembers, collided with a 2005 Ford F450 utility service truck towing a two-axle utility trailer.

August 30, 2016
NTSB opens docket on 2015's Calif. Metrolink crash

 

2 min to read


The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened the public docket as part of its ongoing investigation of a Metrolink commuter train accident in Oxnard, Calif. in 2015.

The docket contains more than 2,200 pages of information including factual group reports, interviews, photographs and other investigative materials.

Ad Loading...

The accident happened Feb. 24, 2015, at about 5:44 a.m., when a commuter train carrying 51 passengers and three crewmembers, collided with a 2005 Ford F450 utility service truck towing a two-axle utility trailer. The truck driver had turned right from South Rice Avenue onto the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) track and the truck became lodged on the track 80 feet west of the grade crossing. The train consisted of a cab/coach car in the lead, three coach cars, and a locomotive at the rear. Thirty-two people aboard the train were injured, while the train engineer died. The truck driver exited his vehicle and ran from the scene prior to the crash; he sustained minor injuries that were unrelated to the crash sequence.

The public docket contains only factual information collected by NTSB investigators, and does not provide analysis, findings, recommendations or probable cause determinations. No conclusions about how or why an accident occurred should be drawn from the docket. The docket opening marks a transition in the investigative process where the majority of facts needed for the investigation have been gathered and the NTSB can move ahead with analysis of those facts.

Opening the docket affords those with a need and desire for its contents the opportunity review what factual information has been gathered about the accident. Any analysis, findings, recommendations, or probable cause determinations related to the accident will be issued by the NTSB at a later date.

To view the docket material, click here

More Security and Safety

Transit Leaders Gather for National Safety Summit
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit

Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.

Read More →
DART's light rail station at 8th and Corinth
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative

The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.

Read More →
RTD Launches All-in-One NextRide App
Technologyby Alex RomanAugust 26, 2026

RTD Launches NextRide App to Consolidate Trip Planning, Fares, Security Reporting

The app expands on RTD’s existing NextRide web application and allows customers to view real-time vehicle locations and service alerts, purchase and store digital fares, and access customer support.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with technician hands working on an engine and text reading "TAPTCO Updates OSHA Compliance Training for Transit Maintenance."
Security and Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 25, 2026

TAPTCO Updates OSHA Compliance Training for Transit Maintenance Operations

The revamped program addresses 26 OSHA standards for maintenance facilities, with TAPTCO pointing to training, documentation, and everyday shop hazards as continuing challenges for transit operations.

Read More →
An image of a doorway on a public transit vehicle with a yellow outline overlay.
SponsoredAugust 18, 2026

How VaporVision Adds Value to Transit Door Systems

Wabtec engineers explain how the system improves doorway detection, strengthens diagnostics and gives transit agencies and OEMs greater operating flexibility.

Read More →
An Amtrak Cascades Airo Trainset at a station.
Railby Alex RomanAugust 14, 2026

FRA Announces $5.3B in Rail Investments, Including $2B for Amtrak

Funding will support grade-crossing improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and new Amtrak equipment in 23 states.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Layered Safety Strategies Take Hold in Chicago and Maryland
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanAugust 13, 2026

Chicago, Maryland Expand Non-Law-Enforcement Safety, Rider Support

The CTA and MTA are launching new programs aimed at de-escalation, crisis response, rider assistance, and greater transparency.

Read More →
AI Powers Bus Lane Enforcement
Technologyby Alex RomanAugust 12, 2026

LA Metro, City of West Hollywood, and Partners Advance Smarter Bus Lane Enforcement

The award-winning partnership combines AI-powered detection with human oversight to improve bus reliability, accessibility, and enforcement efficiency.

Read More →
A man speaks with two Los Angeles Metro Ambassadors.
Security and Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 4, 2026

LA Metro Reports 57% Decline in Homelessness on Transit System Since 2024

The agency's latest homelessness count offers new data on how care-based services and cross-sector partnerships can complement traditional transit security strategies.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An image of the white house with text overlayed reading "FTA Launches Transit Performance Dashboard."
Security and Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 24, 2026

FTA Launches 'Transit Moves America' Dashboard to Highlight Agency Safety and Performance

The online dashboard transforms National Transit Database information into a public-facing resource that allows users to compare transit agencies on key operational and safety metrics.

Read More →