Mudslide Cause of Train Derailment That Injured 9, Officials Say

SUNOL, CA: A mudslide caused a California commuter train to derail and plunge into a Sunol creek Monday evening, an Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) spokesman told Bay City News.

Officials initially blamed a downed tree as the cause of the derailment but after further investigation determined a mudslide likely pushed the tree and debris across the tracks, Bay City News reported.

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California Commuter Train Plunges Into Creek In Sunol; 9 Injured

The first two cars of the Stockton-bound ACE 10 train, which was carrying 214 passengers, went off the tracks around 7:15 p.m. in the area of 5500 Niles Canyon Road. The lead car plummeted into Alameda Creek in Niles Canyon and was partially submerged in the creek swollen from recent Pacific storms. The second car remained upright adjacent to the tracks, according to the Altamont Corridor Express officials.

Around 7:30 p.m., emergency personnel from Alameda County Fire, Fremont Fire, Fremont and Pleasanton Police and the California Highway Patrol were called to Sunol, which is located between Pleasanton and Fremont, to assist with the incident. First-responders jumped into the swirling waters to rescue passengers. Original reports of 14 injured were revised downward to 10.

One passenger aboard the train described the harrowing derailment scene as something out of a Hollywood movie. Uninjured passengers were taken to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

According to Bay City News, the derailed car is valued at more than $2 million.

ACE trains, which provide commuter service from San Jose to Stockton, were suspended Tuesday due to the derailment. Officials have not yet announced if service will resume tomorrow. According to Bay City News, this is third ACE train derailment in 17 years. Niles Canyon Road was closed for the investigation and will likely remain closed until further notice.

The train tracks are owned by Union Pacific. They will remain closed while salvage operations continue for the derailed cars. Then the tracks must be inspected and cleared for use.

Photo courtesy Alameda County Fire Twitter

Audio embed courtesy NBC 7