SMART Train Collision: Driver Of Truck Failed To Stop, CHP Says

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — UPDATED: A local man is expected to survive the injuries he suffered Thursday in a collision with a SMART train in south Santa Rosa, the California Highway Patrol says. At about 3:20 p.m., 68-year-old Detlev Ihfled of Santa Rosa was driving a commercial box (delivery) truck westbound on Todd Road near Moorland Avenue and failed to stop at the tracks as a northbound Smart Train was approaching at an undetermined speed, said CHP Spokesman Jonathan Sloat.

"The crossing arms were down and the warning lights activated," Sloat said. "For unknown reasons, Ihfled failed to stop and ran through the crossing arms. The cab of the truck crossed the tracks, but the train struck the rear box bed."

The impact caused the truck to spin and flip before shearing off a utility pole, Sloat said.

The collision sent debris catapulting into an adjacent parking lot and down the tracks, Sloat said.

The train came to a stop approximately a quarter of a mile north of the crossing, according to CHP.

Although there was significant damage to the front of the SMART train, none of the 47 passengers reported suffering injuries in the crash nor did three crew members, according to CHP.

Ihfled was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries that were not believed to be life threatening, Sloat said.

Friday afternoon, Ihfled was in fair condition, a Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital spokeswoman said.

Thursday's collision delayed trains by at least 20 minutes, SMART said on social media.

SMART spokeswoman Jeanne Mariani-Belding said a bus bridge took train passengers from the downtown Santa Rosa station south to Rohnert Park to bypass the collision site.

One-way traffic control was in effect for several hours on westbound Todd as the debris was removed.

The investigation is ongoing.

"[The] driver does not remember anything," Sloat told Patch Friday morning.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call CHP at 707-588-1400.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo courtesy of resident Mike Henderson