Accident between train and Surfliner pedestrian kills two: it happens ‘more than people think’

Two people were struck and killed by a northbound Amtrack Surfliner train Friday evening near a beach campground in Ventura County, officials said.

On Friday around 9:45 p.m., emergency responders were summoned to the tracks for a “train versus pedestrian” call at Faria Beach Park near Pacific Coast Highway, said Capt. Tony McHale of the Ventura County Fire Department. He said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and law enforcement took over.

“Unfortunately, it happens more than people think,” McHale said. “Over the course of my career, I’ve received many calls. Sometimes it’s suicides. Sometimes it’s homeless people living along the railroad tracks. In this case, we don’t know.”

He said the train was stopped at the scene but no one on board was injured.

The 351-mile Amtrack Pacific Surfliner route connects San Diego, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo and carries approximately 2 million passengers annually.

According to California Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit rail safety organization, California has the highest number of deaths from rail trespassing and crossings in the country.

From 2021 to 2025, there have been 20 fatalities on the Pacific Surfliner route, 19 of them as a result of trespassing and one at a railroad crossing, said Nancy Sheehan-McCulloch, executive director of the nonprofit.