Garden Grove Driver Hit by Blue Line Train
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COMPTON, Calif. — An Orange County driver who tried to go around railroad safety arms was struck and critically injured by an oncoming Metro Blue Line train Tuesday.
Sherril McDowell, 38, of Garden Grove was westbound in her Volkswagen on Alondra Boulevard when her path was blocked by lowered gates signaling an oncoming train.
McDowell swerved into the opposite lane in an effort to get around the gates, but when she tried to get back into the westbound lanes, she apparently realized she was unable to clear the intersection, Lt. Joe Flores said.
She apparently tried to either turn around or back the vehicle up, but before she could do so her car was hit by a southbound train traveling about 40 m.p.h.
McDowell was taken to Martin Luther King Jr.-Drew Medical Center in critical condition with major head and chest injuries. Her car was destroyed.
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