More details released about fatal accident near Chualar

The CHP released more information late Tuesday afternoon, September 11 about a fatal accident that involved a truck and a train on railroad tracks near Chualar west of Highway 101 and on Esperanza Road at around 7 pm on Monday night, September 10. The crash resulted in the death of 36-year-old Jose Emmanuel Chavarin Ruiz of Salinas who was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 and traveling westbound on a private dirt road west of US-101. The Ford F-150 Ruiz was driving belonged to his employer Triangle Farms Incorporated on Natividad Road in Salinas. A 1994 Amtrak Train was heading northbound west of US-101. The 11 car passenger Amtrak Train was traveling from Los Angeles to Sacramento through Monterey County. For unknown reasons the Ford F-150 attempted to cross the railroad tracks directly in the path of the Amtrak Train. The railroad tracks at this intersection is controlled by a stop sign. The impact caused fatal injuries to Ruiz. Alcohol and or drugs are not suspected to be a factor at this time. The traffic collision is still under investigation by the CHP Monterey Area Office. Amtrak Detective Mumford will be conducting its own investigation. The California Highway Patrol reminds everyone to always yield the right of way to a train, the train you see is closer and faster moving than it appears, be aware that trains cannot stop quickly, lower your windows for clear visibility of an approaching train, lower your radio to avoid any distractions, and lower your windows to hear the audible warning from an approaching train.