[04-21-2023] Santa Barbara County, CA – One Pedestrian Killed After Train Accident near Gaviota State Park

An adult male pedestrian was killed after a train accident near Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara County on Friday morning, April 21, 2023.

According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Amtrak train struck the pedestrian around 11:17 a.m. near the 16000 block of Highway 101 and one mile south of Mariposa Reina. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scott Safechuck, a County fire spokesperson, claimed that the train tracks were shut down as crews arrived.

Law enforcement agencies and park officials were still on the scene at noon.

As of 11:12 a.m., Amtrak reported that its northbound Pacific Surfliner train 761 was stopped north of Goleta after the trespasser incident.

According to recent updates, the service has already resumed.

Well-Grounded Train Accident Lawyers in Santa Barbara County

Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible if you are involved in a train accident is essential. Our experienced attorneys would happily offer a free consultation and serve as unbiased mediators should an insurance claim be filed after an accident or wrongful death.

One of our lawyers will evaluate your case, outline the following steps, and discuss the factors that could affect the final settlement offer.

Our Santa Barbara County train accident attorneys at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi Esq., have received awards and recognition for their work and effort on behalf of accident victims. To date, $750 million in compensation has been awarded to accident victims.

Contact us at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” to schedule a free consultation with one of our reliable lawyers.

What to Do After a Train Accident

If you or someone you know is involved in a train accident, here are the steps you should follow:

• Call 911 immediately. When talking to the police or your insurance company, remember to stick to the necessary details and don’t make assumptions.
• Don’t admit fault, not even to the police. Tell the authorities the truth about what happened. Provide as many details as you can about the crash.
• Seek medical care right away to lessen the severity of your injuries.
• The other party’s insurance company may contact you on the day of the accident. When communicating with them, only reveal the necessary information. Before consulting an attorney, it would be best to refrain from recording statements or accepting insurance settlement offers.
• Contact our train accident attorneys in California immediately to get the most out of your insurance coverage.

Fatal Train Accident Statistics

In 2021, 893 people were killed in train accidents. It is 20% more than the total number of deaths in 2020, which was 744. Five thousand seven hundred eighty-one people were admitted to hospitals due to nonfatal injuries in 2021. It increased by 4% from 5,544 in 2020.

Between 2020 and 2021, deaths at highway-rail crossings increased by 21%, while deaths from other incidents increased by 20%. The latter had a fatality rate of 94%, or 617 people, all trespassers.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that a person or their vehicle is killed or injured when hit by a train every two hours.

Every year, more than a thousand people are killed in train accidents. It resulted in over 2,300 injuries and 600 deaths.