Emergency responders at the scene where a MetroLink commuter train collided with a truck in Oxnard, California. (Agence France-Presse)
A truck driver whose vehicle was struck by a Southern California commuter train, triggering a wreck in which 50 people were hurt, will not be charged at this time in connection with the derailment, Ventura County prosecutors said on Thursday.
Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez, 54, was found walking and "in distress" more than a mile (1.5 km) from the crash site in Oxnard on Tuesday and was later taken into custody on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, police said.
Sanchez-Ramirez, who had been scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, was expected to be released following the decision by prosecutors not to file charges, at least for now.
"District Attorney Gregory D Totten announced today that no charges will be filed at this time against Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez in connection with the Feb. 24, 2015, Metrolink grade-crossing collision and train derailment in Oxnard, California," the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.
The crash in Oxnard, about 45 miles (70 km) northwest of Los Angeles, flipped over three double-decker Metrolink rail cars and derailed two others. It also tore apart the Ford pickup truck Sanchez-Ramirez drove onto the tracks after making a wrong turn before dawn.
Prosecutors said they would await further findings from the investigation before deciding whether to file charges.
Sanchez-Ramirez's attorney Ron Bamieh told reporters on Wednesday the crash was an accident and his client left the scene trying to look for help before eventually finding police.
© Thomson Reuters 2015