Box truck struck by SMART train in Santa Rosa, driver suffers major injuries

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (BCN) - A box truck driver suffered major injuries and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital when the truck collided with a SMART train this afternoon, California Highway Patrol Officer Jon Sloat said.

The collision happened around 3:20 p.m. near Todd Road and Moorland Avenue. The gates at the crossing were down and the truck drove through them, Sloat said.

The cab was not struck but the train hit the box end of the truck causing it to spin and overturn, Sloat said. There was severe damage to the front of the SMART train, Sloat said.

No injuries were reported to the 47 passengers on the train, the CHP said.

The train was traveling at about 50 mph at the time and continued traveling some distance after the collision, according to the CHP.

The collision closed westbound Todd Road.

SMART spokeswoman Jeanne Mariani-Belding said a bus bridge is taking train passengers from the downtown Santa Rosa station south to Rohnert Park to bypass the collision site.

The CHP is advising motorists to avoid the area until at least 6:15 p.m.