An investigator probes the mangled taxi cab

November 28, 1999
Web posted at: 8:20 a.m. EST (1320 GMT)

From staff and wire reports

COMPTON, California (CNN) -- Six people died Saturday night when a taxicab lost a race with a commuter train south of Los Angeles.

The cab went through a red flashing warning signal, around a crossing gate and was hit by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line Train, Compton Police Department Lieutenant Danny Sneed told CNN.

The cab broke in half and caught fire, Sneed said. All six people in the cab, four men and two women, died at the scene.

The train's conductor was the only one on board. She said she saw the taxi alongside her southbound train when the cab suddenly made a left turn in front of her, trying to beat the train across the tracks. She tried to stop, but couldn't slow the train in time to avoid hitting the taxi.

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According to Sneed, the conductor was shaken but didn't appear to be injured. She was taken to a local hospital for observation.

The accident occurred just after 11 p.m. along the Metrolink Blue Line, which is a 22-mile route between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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