Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A male juvenile received major injuries after being hit by a train in Covina March 25, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The juvenile was hit at the Sunflower Avenue crossing around 3:30 p.m.

The juvenile, said to be 17 years old, is apparently on life support which will end today. A gofundme has been established for the teen and his family

“As a young member of our community, Diego's life hangs in the balance, and the circumstances surrounding the accident raise significant concerns about railway safety and the well-being of pedestrians in our area,” according to a woman who identified herself as Jenna Crofts, the gofundme organizer.

The juvenile may not have been paying attention when the train approached. The train was passing just as the juvenile walked into it, according to Officer Joseph Davila of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

The crossing is an active crossing with lights, bells and gates for automobiles, but does not feature pedestrian barriers.

The juvenile was being treated at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Trains are moving once more after a pedestrian was struck and killed Friday afternoon.


The collision occurred at the crossing on Vincent Avenue just north of San Bernardino Road. First responders were called around 12:48 p.m. November 24.


Metrolink train line 357 to Los Angeles was involved, according to Meredith Yeoman, public relations manager for Metrolink.


Line 357 was able to move forward to Los Angeles, delayed three hours and 10 minutes. Multiple other lines were cancelled altogether. Passengers affected by the track closure were offered reimbursement for alternate transportation, according to a Metrolink statement.


The tracks were reopened by around 4:06 p.m., according to a Metrolink statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man who likely jumped in front of a Metrolink train sustained life-threatening injuries Monday evening.

The man broke free from a Good Samaritan who tried to pull him off the tracks. Witnesses told police the man intended to kill himself, according to Lt. Anthony Zavala of the Covina Police Department.

First responders were called to Glendora Avenue at the railroad tracks at 7:21 p.m. July 24.

The Good Samaritan was uninjured, Zavala told SGV CityWatch.

The Metrolink train, line 334 headed to downtown San Bernardino, struck the pedestrian. The train was held between Glendora Avenue and Cypress Avenue during the investigation. Trains resumed service with the delays up to 90 minutes, according to Metrolink.

The train that struck the pedestrian was eventually canceled after moving ahead to the Pomona North Station.

Police are working to confirm the man’s identity.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CiyWatch Editor

COVINA - Covina detectives are still trying to determine what led an older driver to crash into a Metrolink train heading for San Bernardino Friday morning.

A Honda CRV and the Metrolink train collided while the vehicle was driven southbound on Barranca Avenue in the No. 1 lane, according to Sgt. Ray Marquez of the Covina Police Department.

A passenger on the train only complained of pain, Marquez told SGV CityWatch.

The collision occurred at 10:20 a.m. February 10.

Train 308, which struck the Honda CRV, was able to arrive at the Covina Metrolink Station to allow the 100 passengers to exit and seek alternate transportation, according to Metrolink Spokesperson Karen Bakar.

A large crane lifted the twisted Honda CRV from the Metrolink Right of Way.

The tracks were opened to resume train service at 12:39 p.m.

As of Friday evening, there was no status update for the driver’s condition. Detectives were still at the hospital where the driver is being treated, according to Sgt. Seok Lee of the Covina Police Department.

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.