Edhat Staff
(Photo: SBCFD)
A bicyclist was struck and killed by the Pacific Surfliner train as it pulled into the Goleta Train Station just after noon on Thursday.
At 12:06 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to a report of a pedestrian struck on the Union Pacific railway between La Patera and Fairview, reports SBCFD Public Information Officer Mike Eliason.
Crews discovered the Pacific Surfliner train stopped near David Love Place in Goleta and learned it was traveling northbound, and beginning to slow as it pulled into the station. A male in his 50’s was reportedly riding a bicycle along the railroad tracks. The engineer sounded the train’s horn repeatedly, but the male did not move out of the way. The bicyclist was struck and killed instantly, coming to rest near the bridge that crosses along San Pedro Creek near the Twin Lakes Golf area, reports Eliason.
Ten people were on the train at the time of the incident. The train itself has moved north on the tracks near La Patera. The train crew will be replaced by a new crew traveling from Los Angeles, a common occurrence after a traumatic event.
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Coroner will release the identity of the deceased once next of kin is notified
