Fiery Truck Crash Leads to Dramatic Kitten Rescue, Major Closure

PASADENA, CA — A trucker and a wayward kitten are lucky to be alive today after a big rig plowed through the center divider on the Foothill (210) Freeway onto the metro tracks before bursting into flames Saturday.

The crash triggered a major SigAlert and shut down the Metro Gold Line for eight hours. While the driver walked away unscathed, a cat tested its nine lives by darting across the freeway and in between the dual tires of the still-burning truck, according to the Pasadena Fire Department. Firefighters were able to free the little cat and treat its injuries.

The crash occurred on the westbound side of the freeway at Madre Street at about 7:06 a.m., the California Highway Patrol reported. For some reason the big rig shot across all lanes of traffic and "broke through" the divider into the train area, said CHP officials.

A SigAlert was issued at 7:12 a.m., closing the westbound carpool, one and two lanes for three hours, the CHP said. The SigAlert was discontinued at about 2:30 p.m.

No Gold line trains were in the area at the time of the crash, said Metro's Rick Jager, and as a result of the crash there was no service between the Sierra Madre Villa and Allen stations.

Gold Line service resumed about 3 p.m. with up to 15-minute residual delays expected through 4:30 p.m., Metro officials said.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Courtesy of the Pasadena Fire Department