Metro Train Crashes into Car in Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA - A driver escaped injury Wednesday night after making an ill-advised left turn in front of an Expo Line train in Santa Monica, a police sergeant said.

The collision occurred about 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Colorado Avenue, according to Santa Monica police Sgt. Chris Skoghi.

"The vehicle and the train were both going eastbound on Colorado when the driver made a left turn in front of the train which hit the back of the vehicle," Skoghi said.

The driver was not injured in the collision, Skoghi said. No one was on the rain except for the operator and he was not injured.

While passenger service on the Expo Line extension from Culver City to Santa Monica is set to begin May 20, Metro has been doing test runs on the line to test for any problems, Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo said.

It was not clear if the intersection has safety gates installed, he said. The investigation was ongoing Ubaldo said.

The driver was not cited nor arrested, Skoghi said.

--City News Service contributed to this story. Photo courtesy of Metro