Ok, there was a bad accident. So two or three stations send helicopters to wake up the neighborhoods. If every dog started barking at 5:30 I wonder how many calls the police would have for noise.

The traffic reports work fine without the helicopters circling neighborhoods. There was no necessity or benefit by the stations helicopters being in the neighborhood.

I would like to see the cities ask the station to keep the helicopters away from residential areas unless requested by the local authorities.

Is that the reason why helicopters were heard in the early morning hours? What is the benefit of circling in the air for this particular accident? I would like to hear from someone representing the city or relevant parties to help me to understand this.

I hope the police can find the person(s) who left the car so they can be prosecuted for inconveniencing and endangering the train riders.

Couldn't the conductor see the car on the tracks instead of plowing into it?

Fie to the idiot who left the car on the track, endangering anyone who might have attempted to "rescue" anyone who might be inside. It's fortunate that only property damage was done.

Caltrain has had a very rough year. It has to be tough to be an engineer on the trains these days, with the rash of people getting injured (intentionally or otherwise) and the occasional car wreck. It would be nice if we, as a society, could grow up and start becoming more responsible.

BTW The person driving a train is the engineer - the conductor is the person who deals with passengers.

One of the helicopters was the police

1. Buster - trains cannot stop in time when they see a car, person, etc.

2. This story is eminently fascinating. WHY would someone abandon a car on the tracks? Did it stall out? Was it going to be repo'd? And why would they abandon it on the tracks (which is very hazardous to the train and traumatic for the poor engineer) instead of plowing it into the old Cottage, where it could perhaps do some good? ;-).

PS - I'm joking about the Cottage. I think.

Stolen vehicle. Brand new.Then abandoned.

I saw the plume of smoke and the fire equipment racing to the scene from 237 ovrecrossing. . What are the odds of this showing up on youtube.