Light rail ran red light, crashed into garbage truck at Mesa intersection: PD
MESA, Ariz. - Police say no one was seriously hurt when a light rail train crashed into a garbage truck on Wednesday at a Mesa intersection.
The crash happened on Jan. 3 at Robson and Main Street. The truck's tire sliced through the front of the light rail, shattering the glass and pushing it off the tracks.
"I think this is a crazy and outrageous accident," said Shinece Mcloud. "I don’t understand how this even became possible."
Three people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, including the light rail operator.
"Pretty crazy, what happened," said Will Stitcher.
"I'm actually scared," said Mcloud. "Like, what actually happened to the conductor and the people on the train" I’m, like, scared for them."
"I saw them take a few people away on stretchers and an ambulance," said David Snyder, who works in the area.
The collision resulted in the light rail's closure, from Country Club Drive to MacDonald, for hours. As for the truck involved in the crash, at least three tow trucks worked to hoist it up and carry it away.
"We have learned that the garbage truck was traveling northbound on Robson through a green light and was struck by the light rail, which was traveling westbound on Main, ultimately running the red light," police said.
It's unknown if the light rail operator will be cited.
Valley Metro says it is investigating the crash.