Amtrak train collides with forklift in San Juan Capistrano, 1 injured

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — A construction worker was injured when an Amtrak train slammed into a forklift stuck on the tracks in San Juan Capistrano Thursday, Aug. 15.

The northbound train collided with the forklift between Route 73 and Hidden Creek Road about 1:15 p.m., Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Jon Muir said.

The train was going about 50 mph when it crashed into the vehicle, Muir said. There were about 200 passengers on board at the time, OCFA officials said in a Tweet.

The forklift operator was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and treated for minor injuries, firefighters said.

“He was alert, oriented and talking to us” before he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, Muir said.

[SAN JUAN] Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured in this accident. Just after 1:00PM, a train traveling NB collided with a forklift being operated by a construction worker. The worker was treated for minor injuries. No injuries to 200 plus passengers on the train.pic.twitter.com/h1qY0OZXg2

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) August 15, 2019

The crash led to a track closure that led to the cancellation of at least two trains, Amtrak officials said. Some affected passengers were re-accommodated on alternate trains. Some travelers headed south toward Oceanside, but stuck at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station, were picked taken the rest of the way by an Orange County Transit Authority bus.

Staff writer Eric Licas contributed to this report.

UPDATE: Due to ongoing track closure near San Juan Capistrano (SNC), Trains 583 and 590 are cancelled. Passengers will be re-accommodated on Trains 785 and 792. #SurflinerAlert

— Pacific Surfliner (@PacSurfliners) August 15, 2019

IEOC Line 815 Update: OCTA bus 5501 is en route to Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and will make all stops to Oceanside. ETA 30 to 45 minutes.

— Metrolink (@Metrolink) August 15, 2019