It appears that train accidents are becoming more common. Whether or not this is statistically true, it seems as though the news these days filled with horror stories of pedestrians or cars getting struck by freight or light rail trains.

Sadly, many Sacramento residents witnessed just such a tragedy last weekend as an SUV was struck by a light rail train on 26th Avenue. The light rail accident resulted in several injuries and three deaths.

The SUV was being driven by a 62-year-old man with several members of his family in the car. He and two others in the vehicle died as a result of the crash, including a 25-year-old man and a 21-month-old child. A woman in the vehicle was injured but survived.

Of the approximately 50 passengers aboard the light rail at time, six needed to be taken to the hospital.

The car accident occurred at about 4:15 p.m. on Saturday. According to authorities and representatives for Regional Transit, video from the train shows that there was no malfunction in the crossing arm or the signals.

Rather, investigators believe that the SUV's driver drove around the crossing arm during the brief window between the passing of a freight train and the arrival of the light rail that struck the SUV.

But the driver's sons do not believe that their father would make such a reckless decision and jeopardize the safety of himself and his family. One son said: "That's a teenage move that happened. My dad was not a teenager. He didn't think like a teenager. I believe in my heart there was a malfunction."

The incident is still being investigated, and it will likely take some time to sort out the exact cause of the accident. If the collision was the result of a malfunction or some other negligence on the part of Regional Transit, the victims' family may have grounds to seek compensation for wrongful death and personal injury.

Source: KXTV News 10, "3 dead after SUV collides with light rail train," Amy Jacobson Kurokawa, Jan. 30, 2012