An elderly woman escaped death after her car was struck by a train moving at 70 mph this morning, according to police.
"She's very lucky to be alive," said Lt. Ben Horner of the Union City Police Department.
Authorities responded to the accident at about 7:50 a.m. at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and H Street where they found the silver sedan with most of its front end sheared off.
The car was struck by a southbound Capital Corridor train and was dragged a block, Horner said.
The woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution after reporting minor pains, said Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles.
According to Horner, the driver was stuck between the crossing arm and the railroad tracks. She didn't think her car was far enough onto the tracks to be in danger and didn't want to back up and damage the railroad crossing, he said.
The road has now been cleared.
KCBS reports that the accident has caused major delays along the southbound Capital Corridor line.
Capital Corridor announced on Twitter that the train, Train 523, has been taken out of service and that passengers are being told to use Train 527 or call 1-877-974-3322 for information.
