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Delano man dies on railroad tracks
Failure to notice lights, bell cost mayor's brother his life
| Monday, Nov 26 2007 10:45 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Nov 26 2007 10:56 PM
A 37-year-old Delano man, a brother of the city's mayor, died Monday morning when the pickup truck he was driving was struck by a freight train north of Shafter.
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The man, Martin Ayon Rios, died immediately and the pickup truck was destroyed. Pieces of the wrecked vehicle, along with the portable toilets it was carrying, were strewn across the northeast side of the tracks at Merced Avenue and Highway 43.
Delano Mayor Pedro Rios said the man was his brother but declined to comment further at the scene of the crash.
The intersection where the collision happened is one where state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, has pushed for the installation of crossing arms, said Jennifer Hanson, a spokeswoman for the senator. Florez could not immediately be reached for comment.
Barry Nienke, traffic engineering manager at the Kern County Roads Department, said the intersection is one of four along the main line used by Burlington Northern Santa Fe that will get crossing arms in future months.
The other intersections are at Poplar Avenue, Blankenship Avenue and Peterson Road. The crossing arms are expected to be installed around May.
Nienke said he was only aware of one other intersection where crossing arms are being installed -- at Patterson Avenue and Sierra Highway in Rosamond.
California Highway Patrol Officer Greg Williams said Rios was leaving a job site at an almond orchard at 10:30 a.m. and apparently didn't see the lights or hear the bell at the railroad crossing warning of the approaching train. Rios began driving across the tracks and the train struck him traveling 45 to 55 mph.
"Unfortunately, his mind wasn't on his driving," Williams said. "This mistake cost him his life."