.png)
UPDATE: Woman Struck By Gold Line Train Identified
The coroner’s office has released the name of the woman who was struck and killed by a Gold Line train in the early hours of Sunday morning, October 1, 2017. Lt. Larry Dietz of the coroner’s office says the woman was 21-year-old Chloe Plotnikov of South Pasadena. She was an alumni of South Pasadena High School and enjoyed her time spent at The Place.
Natasha Prime, who founded The Place, knew her well and is heartbroken saying, “she was a wonderful young woman who will forever be in the hearts of those who knew her. It is Suicide Prevention Week. Let’s raise awareness and work to fight the stigma of those who suffer from emotional distress. Let’s also be kind to one another.”
Our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this young woman. South Pasadena recently dedicated a week to Suicide Prevention.
October 1, 2017: MTA Metro train accident this morning on Monterey Rd. Woman on tracks was struck and killed.
Fire and police officials responded to a call this morning of a female pedestrian having been struck by a metro train. According to SPFD Acting Captain Anthony Porraz, “the only information we have at this time is that it was a train believed to be going southbound and we had one victim, a female, that was pronounced dead at the scene.”
He tells us that responding to the call were LA County Sheriffs, Metro, Fire Units from Alhambra and South Pasadena as well as San Marino Battalion Division Chief and South Pasadena Police.
Spokeswoman for Metro, Kim Upton, stated that the crash occurred at 7:31 a.m. at Pasadena Avenue at Monterey Road and that at this time it was not clear if the person was struck accidentally or had intentionally walked on the tracks.
Service in both directions was stopped for a brief time, as Metro officials readied a “bus bridge” and made plans for single-track operations. San Marino Batallion Cheif, Mark Dondaville, was on scene and tells us that there were no other injuries and they evacuated 31 passengers and staged a safe area for them to wait until another southbound train could pick them up. He approximates that service was delayed for 30 minutes. The train involved in the accident remained on scene.
Because the accident occurred just beyond LA Sheriff’s jurisdiction, South Pasadena Police are handling the case in cooperation with Metro and the City Coroner’s office. SPPD Corporal Phillips explained, “at 7:35 this morning, police 911 received a call from Metro train staff that one of their trains hit a pedestrain at the crossing of Monterey Road and Pasadena Avenue. Units responded, immediately discovered a deceased female, possibly caucasian or light skinned Hispanic, age possibly between 40-50. The body was badly damaged by the train. Coroners and LA Sheriffs were alerted.”
Phillips went on to explain that the statement of the metro train driver indicated possible suicide. “The train driver said that as he approached, he could see that the woman was standing at the crossing on track side of the gate, he immediately hit his brakes and then she bascially jumped out in front of the train. We are writing it as a suicide at this point unless the coroner gives us anything that would make us change our mind.” When asked how they concluded that she actually jumped Corporal Phillips stated “that is what the driver of the train said, that as the train approached and as he was braking, which he did because she was standing with her back against the gates, which was only about 25 feet before, and then she basically fell down in front of the train.”
The woman has not been identified and SPPD do not expect identification until early in the week.
This is a developing story. Complete coverage to follow as more facts become available. South Pasadenan news staff contributed to this story. Metro service is restored.
We added this intersection to our badintersections.com map.