Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
When a Metrolink train hits a car left on the tracks, injured passengers usually look first at the person who left the vehicle there, and then at whether the railroad itself may share responsibility. Metrolink claims generally start with a written government claim within six months. A claim against a private person usually has a longer deadline. This article is about Metrolink service in the San Fernando Valley. It is not a guide to Amtrak crashes, which we cover separately.
On Monday, November 9, 2026, CBS Los Angeles reported that a Metrolink train struck an unoccupied vehicle left on the tracks. According to Metrolink, the train was on the Ventura line between the Van Nuys and Northridge stations. The Los Angeles Police Department said the location was near Roscoe Boulevard and Balboa Place. Metrolink said 28 passengers were aboard and that no injuries were reported.
What has been reported
CBS Los Angeles, citing Metrolink, said the train was damaged and was not operational, and that the Van Nuys and Northridge stations were closed as a result. The report said that as of 6:30 a.m., Metrolink had no word on when repairs would be made or when the stations would reopen.
CBS Los Angeles also reported that it was not yet clear why the vehicle was on the tracks. We do not fill that gap. Nothing here assigns fault to a driver, a passenger, Metrolink, or anyone else.
What passengers should do, even when no injury is reported
A report of no injuries reflects what was known that morning. Some train passengers feel fine at first and notice neck, back, or other symptoms later. If you were on board and later need care, see a doctor, keep every record and bill, and write down the train, the time, your car and seat if you know them, and what you remember about the stop.
Onboard video and event-recorder data can be overwritten. A written request to preserve that material should go out quickly if an injury claim is possible.
Who may pay if a passenger is hurt
The person who left a vehicle on active tracks may face a claim if that conduct caused an injury. That claim is usually against a private party and that party’s insurer, if any.
A claim against Metrolink is different. The railroad is not automatically responsible just because its train struck the car. Responsibility depends on what Metrolink did or failed to do. When a passenger claim against the railroad does exist, Civil Code section 2100 requires a carrier of persons for reward to use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage. That is a higher standard than ordinary care, but it is not a guarantee of payment.
Our article on Metrolink train injuries, common-carrier duties, and the six-month deadline walks through that framework. Our Metrolink accidents page covers injury claims on Metrolink lines across Southern California.
Deadlines, and how this differs from an Amtrak crash
Because Metrolink is a public commuter railroad, an injury claim against it generally must begin with a written government claim. Government Code section 911.2 says a claim for injury to a person must be presented no later than six months after it accrues. Section 945.4 generally bars a damages lawsuit until that claim has been presented and acted on, or deemed rejected.
A claim against a private person who left a vehicle on the tracks usually follows Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, which generally allows two years for a personal injury lawsuit. Do not let the shorter public-entity deadline pass while you sort out the private claim.
Amtrak is a different operator. Federal rules can affect passenger, driver, and bystander claims when an Amtrak train hits a vehicle. That is the subject of our article on an Amtrak train hitting a vehicle in California, not of this page.
The November 9 incident was reported between the Van Nuys and Northridge stations. We have also written about other injury claims in Van Nuys, including a pedestrian hit-and-run.
Talk to us
If you were hurt in California and a city, county, transit agency, or the State may be involved, Win Attorneys handles government claims and personal injury matters statewide from our Tustin office. See our Metrolink accidents page. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.
Call us at (562) 296-5380, reach us through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on the Metrolink tracks in the San Fernando Valley on November 9, 2026?
CBS Los Angeles reported that a Metrolink train on the Ventura line struck an unoccupied vehicle between the Van Nuys and Northridge stations, near Roscoe Boulevard and Balboa Place. Metrolink said 28 passengers were aboard, no injuries were reported, the train was damaged and not operational, and the two stations were closed.
If no injuries were reported, do passengers still have rights?
Reports of no injuries describe what was known at the time. A passenger who later has neck, back, or other symptoms should get medical care and keep records. Whether a claim exists depends on the facts and on the deadlines described below.
Who may have to pay if a car is left on the tracks and a train hits it?
If a passenger is hurt, a claim may lie against the person who left the vehicle on the tracks. A claim against Metrolink is a separate question and is not automatic just because its train struck the car. Each depends on what that party did or failed to do.
How long do I have to make a claim against Metrolink?
Injury claims against Metrolink generally start with a written government claim, which Government Code section 911.2 requires no later than six months after the claim accrues. Claims against a private person who left a vehicle on the tracks usually follow the two-year period in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
Is this the same as an Amtrak train hitting a vehicle?
No. Amtrak is a different operator, and federal rules can affect those claims. Our separate article on an Amtrak train hitting a vehicle covers passengers, drivers, and bystanders in that setting. This article is about Metrolink passengers in the San Fernando Valley.