Teen driver cited in MetroRail wreck

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Cedar Park police cited the teen driver of the pickup truck involved in the MetroRail wreck Thursday morning.

Some 17 passengers, including the operator, were aboard the train when it clipped the rear passenger side of that pickup truck at a private crossing for the MetroRail. The site is also near a home.

Police said the accident happened around 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of Brushy Creek Road on a private, undeveloped road just west of South Vista Ridge Boulevard.

The 16-year-old was reportedly trying to cross the train tracks when the MetroRail hit the tail end of his truck. He was taken to the hospital by a family member to be checked out.

Police cited the teen for failure to yield the right of way at a railroad crossing, and he has been charged.

Authorities said there are no railroad crossing arms where the wreck happened but that there is a mounted stop sign.

Capital Metro spokesman Adam Shaivitz said there are no crossing arms because it is a private crossing.

This is the MetroRail's first incident since it began running in March 2010.

Damage to the train was minor, and the train has been pulled out of service to be checked out at CapMetro's maintenance barn.

No one was injured, and the scene cleared at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Meanwhile, the MetroRail service is running on regular schedules for midday service after it was only operating as far north as the Lakeline station following the wreck.