Woman Dies When Caltrain Strikes Vehicle

One woman was killed when a northbound Caltrain struck a car at Charleston Road near Alma Street in Palo Alto at around 5 p.m., an agency spokeswoman said.

There were approximately 300 to 400 passengers on the train, No. 369, and no one aboard was injured in the collision, Caltrain spokeswoman Tasha Bartholomew said.

According to San Mateo County Transit Police, she said, a Nissan Altima rental car driven by an Indiana couple was traveling east at the intersection when it was struck. The man and woman were visiting family in Palo Alto, she said.

Bartholomew said that, according to transit police, the woman, who was believed to be the driver, was killed and that the man managed to flee from the car. Transit police did not know whether the woman attempted to escape the car, she said.

A call to the San Mateo County Transit Police was not immediately returned.

Caltrain service came to a complete halt in both directions, but as of 6:40 p.m., southbound train No. 264 was turned around north of Palo Alto and was making all local stops in the northbound direction, Bartholomew said.

Riders should still expect delays of 60 to 90 minutes, she said. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is providing five buses for a bus bridge between the California Avenue and San Antonio Caltrain stations, Bartholomew said.

The San Mateo County Transit District and Bay Area Rapid Transit are also honoring Caltrain tickets tonight, she said.

--Bay City News