A driver was killed after his car was struck by a passenger train in Orange Thursday night.
Orange Police responded to the crash at the intersection of Glassell Street and Taft Avenue at 7:02 p.m.
The driver, identified only as a 66-year-old Garden Grove man, was driving a Jeep SUV when witnesses saw the railroad crossing arms being lowered.
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after he allegedly drove his car under a railroad barrier and was struck by a passenger train in Orange on April 17, 2025. (Orange City Fire Department) 
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after he allegedly drove his car under a railroad barrier and was struck by a passenger train in Orange on April 17, 2025. (Orange City Fire Department) 
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after he allegedly drove his car under a railroad barrier and was struck by a passenger train in Orange on April 17, 2025. (Orange Police Department)
The man continued traveling forward and drove through the lighted safety barriers as the oncoming train collided with his vehicle, police said.
A photo from the scene showed the Jeep SUV was totaled by the impact. The driver required extrication by Orange City firefighters before he was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Despite life-saving measures, he died from his injuries.
“At this time, it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were a contributing factor for the collision,” authorities said.
No other injuries to bystanders or train passengers were reported.
Traffic on Taft Avenue was closed for hours as police investigated the scene. Anyone with additional information on the crash can call Detective Rocha at 714-744-7342.
