Trains Slow Through Crossing as Part of Death Investigation

May 10, 2011
Caltrains are moving significantly slower through the Palo Alto crossing where a 65-year-old Indianapolis woman died last month after a commuter train hit her car, an official with the transit agency confirmed Monday.

Caltrains are moving significantly slower through the Palo Alto crossing where a 65-year-old Indianapolis woman died last month after a commuter train hit her car, an official with the transit agency confirmed Monday.

"All we're going to say is it's related to the investigation into the accident," said Caltrain spokesman Mark Simon, who declined to further explain why trains are being slowed at the Charleston Road crossing.

Judith Goldblatt and her husband Lawrence were trying to cross that stretch of tracks in a rented Nissan Altima on April 15 when they apparently got stuck, possibly due to rush-hour traffic, according to Caltrain officials. Lawrence escaped as a northbound train approached but Judith did not.

The investigation into the collision is ongoing, and Simon has called it a "priority" for Caltrain.

Simon said he did not know how much slower the commuter trains are traveling, but noted the drop in speed is "significant."

He also could not say when the trains were first slowed, when they would resume running at regular speed or whether the effort has caused any service delays.

"There are so many things that go into on-time performance that you can't single out one thing," Simon said.

Email Diana Samuels at [email protected] .

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