California man survives leap onto train from overpass

Trains Magazine ^ | Nov 4, 2005 | proprietary

[Sam Cree]

CAMARILLO, Calif. – A man jumped onto the top of Amtrak Pacific Surfliner No. 768 from a highway overpass in Camarillo on Thursday, according to an Associated Press story and published in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The man, Juan Lopez, 33, of Camarillo, was arrested farther down the line by Ventura County sheriff's deputies who swooped in by helicopter. Lopez made the 20-foot leap at about 9 a.m., authorities said. Camarillo is 13 miles east of Ventura. Train 768 operates from San Luis Obispo to San Diego.

"At this point the train starts pulling out and the witnesses see Mr. Lopez standing on top of the train waving to everyone in the parking lot," Deputy Julie Novak told KCAL-TV Los Angeles.

The Amtrak engineer, unaware Lopez was on top of the train, continued south to Somis. A helicopter then dropped deputies onto the train.

Novak said that Lopez was still on top of the train when the deputies arrived at Somis. Uncooperative and not following their orders, Lopez was distracted by deputies on the ground while others on top of the train snuck up behind him. It was then they discovered Lopez had a broken ankle. He was restrained and taken to Pleasant Valley Hospital Medical Center.

[Sam Cree]

Probably a Kerry voter.

[rellimpank]

--guys do it all the time in the movies--

[HarryCaul]

Why not just radio the train to stop?

[ElkGroveDan]

Lopez made the 20-foot leap at about 9 a.m., authorities said.

20 feet doesn't sound like much, but then again most suburban roofs are no more than 20 feet high, in most cases lower. Imagine jumping off the roof of your house onto something solid. I'm just surprised he only broke his ankle.

33? This is something I'd expect from a 19-year-old.

[glorgau]

When I was younger, I jumped in between two Chicago 'el' cars when the doors had closed and it was pulling out of the station. Didn't want to wait for the next train. That was when I was younger, quicker and much dumber. ;-)
It would have been a real mess if there had been even a little slip.

[SIDENET]

It's Superhobo!

[NormsRevenge]

Maybe next time he will think to

[keat]

A Surfliner- Who could resist?

[kerryusama04]

Why not just radio the train to stop?

Dude, if you had the chance to hot rope onto a train, wouldn't you?

[clee1]

That's my question.

So, instead of doing the safe, smart thing - they endanger alot more lives with a Hollywierd helicopter stunt.

What did this slug do, anyway, that caused him to be chased?

[clee1]

Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you should; or that it is a smart thing to do.

[Dog Gone]

A helicopter then dropped deputies onto the train.

We really want taxpayer money to do this to catch hobos? How about the risk to the deputies?

[Sam Cree]

It didn't say they charged him with anything...at least a use has been found for Amtrak.

[dighton]

Kids, don't do stunts on the El unless you're Steve McQueen.

[Nonstatist]

Trains magazine?? Talk about riveting reading.

[AnAmericanMother]

I actually hopped a (slow) freight coming out of the switching yard when I was a kid.

Fortunately I didn't get spotted, didn't get in trouble, didn't lose a leg, and hopped off a mile or so down the line when the train slowed and I realized I might be in deep kim chi if I didn't hop off pronto and sneak home before anybody saw me . . .

[claudiustg]

I got on a freight train in Castroville, Ca (Monterey area) and ended up the next morning in the Glendale shipping yards with 50 cents in my pocket.

[AnAmericanMother]

Glad you're here to tell the tale!

I only made it as far as the river bridge below the old Southern RR Inman Yards on the NW side of Atlanta . . .

[DTogo]

Juan Lopez

Hmmm, and the missing item in this article is...?

[nevergore]

When I was 14 my one of my buddies and I lived in a highrise.....We would climb off his balcony on the 14th floor and swing balcony to balcony until we reached the 8th floor were one of our other friends lived......

It's amazing we survived....