Car hit by Amtrak train near Madera

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man is in the hospital with major injuries after driving his car in front of an Amtrak train near Madera.

It happened just about 7 a.m. Monday morning along the Sante Fe tracks at Avenue 15 1/2. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) says the victim's car was nearly sheered in half.

Officials say there was a parked freight train nearby and the man went around the crossing guards. He was then hit by an Amtrak train passing on another track.

The CHP said the freight train may have obstructed the drivers view of the speeding Amtrak train.

"He probably just didn't see the Amtrak train coming, thought that maybe the crossing arms were down due to a malfunction, but definitely when the cross arms are down don't take a chance. Slow down, stop, and wait for those arms to go back up," said Sgt. Lincoln McKenna, CHP.

Amtrak trains travel anywhere between 70 to nearly 80 miles an hour.