Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - No injuries were reported after an alleged DUI driver in an RV drove through an active railroad crossing and struck a westbound Metrolink train after crashing at a nearby business, police said.

The railroad gates were down when the unnamed driver in the RV allegedly drove through them on southbound Grand Avenue. A Metrolink train was already through the intersection, according to Lt. Dan Regan of the Covina Police Department.

The RV struck the back of the train according to Paul Gonzales, public affairs manager for Metrolink.

The collision is considered only a misdemeanor offense. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, issued a citation and released.

The collision happened around 6:41 p.m. July 11.

“The train continued to go westbound, stopping in Covina, Baldwin Park and ultimately El Monte,” Regan told SGV CityWatch.

The train’s engineer apparently did not known a collision happened. Covina Police informed Metrolink of the crash and Metrolink dispatchers ordered the train to stop so the train’s crew could inspect for damage, which was located towards the rear of the train, Gonzales told SGV CityWatch.

During the investigation, Covina officers were told that the RV’s driver collided with some property at a business in the 4700 block of N. Grand Ave., Reagan told SGV CityWatch.

The driver was hauling some sort of trailer behind his RV, but it jackknifed at the business and separated from the RV. It was left at the scene.

The first collision occurred in the county area of Covina. The California Highway Patrol responded to the abandoned trailer to write a report, Reagan told SGV CityWatch.

Metrolink workers repaired the broken gate arms.

The railroad tracks between the Pomona North Metrolink station and the Covina station we are temporarily closed while repairs are made and an investigation was conducted.

The Los Angeles bound train that was struck by the RV was canceled at the El Monte station, while a San Bernardino bound train was canceled, Metrolink said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office could potentially additionally charge the driver with hit-and-run and for a potential issue regarding a suspended license, Reagan told SGV CityWatch.

COVINA - Two are dead and six are injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the westbound I-10 freeway at Via Verde Avenue.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - One person was pulled from an overturned car unconscious after it rolled over in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday night.

All lanes are open on the west Interstate 10 freeway west of Via Verde Drive after the collision briefly closed all lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

At least two vehicles collided, with one ending up in the center divider and a dark sedan overturning in the slow lane around 6:25 p.m. Earlier reports indicated possibly seven vehicles crashed.

The occupant in the overturned vehicle was pulled out unconscious.

The No. 2, 3 and 4 lanes were booked to traffic long enough to force impatient drivers to exit the freeway via the Kellogg Drive onramp, the CHP said.

At least one patient was taken to an area hospital, according to Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A driver wanted on suspicion of crossing the carpool lane double barrier on the 210 freeway was arrested after fleeing the CHP Friday.
 
A CHP officer attempted to stop the driver on the east 210 freeway at Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia around 7:15 a.m. The driver refused to stop and fled the CHP at high speed, according to Sgt. Ernie Amaya of the California Highway Patrol Altadena Office.
 
The pursuit, which went more than 100 miles per hour at times, exited in the Azusa area and went south on Citrus Avenue and west onto Cypress Street in Covina where the driver fled the car on foot at Viceroy Avenue, Amaya said.
 
“He went on foot and tried to blend in at a Chevron station,” Amaya said.
 
Altadena CHP officers, aided by officers from the Baldwin Park Office, located the suspect and took him into custody without incident.
 
Arrested was Rito Rodriguez. He was booked on suspicion of felony evading police, Amaya said.
 
A background check revealed multiple driver license suspensions on Rodriguez’s record, Amaya said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - At least two people are in custody after a pursuit lead officers into Riverside Tuesday.

Police attempted to stop a driver behind the wheel of a car without license plates in the 1200 block of North Azusa Avenue around 7:15 p.m., but the driver refused to stop, according to Sgt. Joshua Turner of the Covina Police Department.

The driver led police through a parking lot, through surface streets and onto the 210 freeway where the chase headed east, Turner said.

With a police helicopter and media helicopters overhead, the pursuit sped along through the 210, 15,  and 91 freeways, ending up on surface streets in the Corona/Riverside area.

The California Highway Patrol and a Sheriff’s helicopter aided Covina officers as they used the Pursuit Intervention Technique to disable the vehicle at La Sierra and Indiana avenues in Riverside.

At least two suspect surrendered to officers.