Car lands on BART tracks from I-580 in Castro Valley, major traffic impact

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. - An unoccupied car that was being towed, landed on the BART tracks from I-580 in Castro Valley on Tuesday afternoon following a three-car accident, officials say. All lanes have reopened following a complete shutdown in the westbound direction and backups in both directions that lasted several hours. 

How did this happen?

What we know:

California Highway Patrol in Hayward said a tow-truck driver was the only person injured. They were taken away in an ambulance. The extent of those injuries is unclear. CHP initially said there were major injuries involved. 

CHP said the unoccupied vehicle that landed on the tracks was being towed by a truck.  

KTVU spoke with CHP Officer Daniel Rodriguez. He said CHP got the call about the crash at 2:54 p.m. 

"Upon arrival, our officers located a vehicle on the BART tracks," Rodriguez said. "We don't know exactly how the crash happened yet." The investigation is ongoing. He said the crash involved two moving vehicles and the unoccupied car being towed. 

SkyFOX flew to the scene and saw a red truck with damage that appeared to be one of the vehicles involved in the crash. Someone was seen sitting in the flatbed of the truck. It was not clear if they are the owner or if they were riding in the vehicle when the crash happened. The truck had a large hole from shattered windshield glass. 

Officer Rodriguez said chunks of concrete went flying off of the center divide during the crash. 

BART service affected and major traffic impact 

BART service between Castro Valley and West Dublin/Pleasanton stations was nonexistent for almost three hours. During the incident, BART initially did not have an estimated time for service restoration. The transit agency initially said to consider "alternate means of transportation," but no bus bridge shuttle was put into place. 

BART first posted about the situation at 3:06 p.m. 

The Alameda County Fire Department said they responded in part because the car that landed on the tracks also sparked a brush fire. 

CHP said in addition to the westbound lane closures, east of Castro Valley Boulevard, that a left lane in the eastbound direction was also closed. At 4:30 p.m., CHP said three eastbound lanes were open. Shortly after 6 p.m., officials said all westbound and eastbound lanes were open. 

Stranded BART riders

KTVU's Zak Sos reported from the Castro Valley BART station that the traffic backup lasted for miles leading up to the crash and that side streets were impacted. 

A crowd of people at the BART station grew at the beginning of the evening commute hour, with travelers looking for alternate means of transportation. 

BART rider Kim McDade said she was ultimately trying to get to Livermore. 

"I'm at least trying to get to the Dublin station which is at the end of the line," she said. She said that she was waiting for 45 minutes. "All they're telling us is it's not a BART issue and you have to try to find a way to get home on your own." She said that did not sit well with her. She would need to go back to Walnut Creek to get a bus to go back to the Tri-Valley. 

McDade said she made a pact with fellow BART riders who were trying to book a ride-share since no buses were provided. They were all having trouble booking a car, but McDade said whoever got a car first would share with others, and they would split the cost. 

BART rider Rebecca Neely said she was also impacted by the delays. She said there needs to be better communication on incidents like these that affect BART service. 

Another man waited for 45 minutes for a taxi at Bay Fair station. He said he tried rideshare services like Uber, but drivers keep canceling on him, likely because they didn't want to drive in the heavy traffic. 

We are following up with BART as to why a bus bridge or shuttle was not provided. A shuttle may not have provided immediate relief with all the traffic.  

Car removed from tracks 

As for the car struck on the BART tracks, CHP said they were waiting for special equipment to get the car off the tracks. 

That equipment did arrive and a crane hoisted the damaged car off the tracks just before 5:30 p.m. 

The BART tracks were inspected. BART single tracked between Castro Valley and West Dublin once the inspection was complete. They had estimated single tracking would start just before 6 p.m. But by 5:52 p.m., BART announced service was restored and that riders should expect a major delay through the area in both directions. 

After service ends tonight, BART said major repairs would take place on the affected track. 

This is a developing news story. Check back for the latest details.

KTVU's Jana Katsuyama contributed to this report.