20-year-old woman dies after train collides with vehicle

A 20-year-old woman died after a Union Pacific cargo train collided with her vehicle in Morgan Hill Wednesday night, according to police. 

Authorities have not released the identity of the woman who succumbed to major injuries resulting from the head-on collision which happened about 9:10 p.m., according to a press release from Morgan Hill police. 

According to witnesses and evidence at the scene, the woman was traveling westbound in a 1990s model SUV on East Central Avenue from Butterfield Boulevard, police said. The woman – the only occupant of the vehicle – drove over a curb, onto the sidewalk and onto the railroad tracks. 

A Union Pacific train, bound north for San Jose, struck the SUV head-on at about 40 to 50 mph, police said. 

The driver was trapped in the vehicle until she was extracted by Morgan Hill Fire personnel at the scene, authorities said. She was transported to an a area trauma hospital by CalStar, where she died of injuries suffered in the collision. 

Police said alcohol or drugs have not been ruled out as a factor for the driver of the SUV, but a final determination will not be made until toxicology test results are completed. 

MHPD and Union Pacific Police continue to investigate the accident, according to the press release. 

Updates on this incident, including the identity of the SUV driver, will be posted as they are available. 

Anyone with information about this incident can contact MHPD at (408) 779-2101.