Just after 7:00 pm Monday, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to a report of a train versus vehicle in the City of Oakley.
The incident occurred at Main St at E Cypress Road that left a vehicle with major damage and the driver trapped per Oakley Police on scene. Engine 93 arrived on scene confirming the driver was in critical condition and trapped. A medical helicopter was also requested and was going to land in a field at Iron House Elementary School.
By 7:21 pm, REACH helicopter landed in Oakley awaiting patient transport from the crash scene. The driver was described as a male around 40-years-old.
By 8:35 pm, the driver was extricated from the vehicle and being transported to the medical helicopter.
By 7:40 pm, the City of Oakley issued an alert:
Avoid East Cypress Road at the railroad tracks near Main Street for the next two hours due to a vehicle vs. train collision. Use Main Street to Delta Road to Sellers Avenue as alternate routing.
UPDATE
According to Contra Costa County Fire, the driver of the vehicle collided with a train that was already going through the crossing. The pickup hit the number 2 car of the train and took a significant impact which trapped the driver and crushed his lower extremities.
According to the initial investigation by Oakley Police and Contra Costa Fire, it was determined the driver drove around the train crossing arms and went through the warning that was down when he was hit.
Officials urged drivers that when train crossings are down, you stop and let the train pass before passing through safely.