REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- A man was killed late Tuesday afternoon in a crash involving a Caltrain in Redwood City, a Caltrain spokeswoman said.

At about 4:50 p.m., southbound train No. 362 struck a Honda in the area of Whipple Avenue and El Camino Real. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the San Mateo County coroner's office.

Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said the Honda was traveling west on Whipple Avenue when a San Carlos fire engine approached heading south on El Camino Real to a structure fire.

Dunn said traffic came to a stop at the intersection to yield to the fire engine and that the driver of the Honda had stopped on the tracks and was unable to move. The train, which was traveling approximately 60 mph, was unable to stop and struck the vehicle.

The identity of victim is being withheld pending notification of his family.

The crash briefly affected the northbound track and the southbound track was open by 6 p.m.

Caltrain is cautioning drivers to always allow enough room to avoid being trapped between crossing gates or by other vehicles when crossing railroad tracks, and to never stop on the tracks.