Wednesday May 7

Bicyclist collides with Caltrain

Man found unconscious after pedaling into incoming train

By Melanie Carroll / Daily News Staff Writer

A bicyclist pedaled into a moving Caltrain on Tuesday afternoon as the commuter train was arriving at the Castro Street station in Mountain View, a Caltrain spokeswoman said.

The unidentified man was found unconscious after he struck the southbound train which was going about 10 mph, Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said. The man entered the tracks at the north side of the station, and it's unclear whether he intended to board the commuter train, Dunn said.

The gates, lights and bells warning pedestrians of the oncoming train were activated, although it's unknown whether the man went around the gates, Dunn said.

Southbound and northbound tracks were closed for about 20 minutes starting at around 4:25 p.m., Dunn said. The man collided with the 158 train, which was slated to arrive in Mountain View at 4:15 p.m., according to the Caltrain schedule.

The bicyclist was taken by ambulance to a Mountain View hospital, where he received treatment. Dunn said this was the first incident she had heard of involving a moving bicyclist striking a moving Caltrain.



E-mail Melanie Carroll at mcarroll@dailynewsgroup.com.