Palmdale Woman Dies When Car Hits Train

A Palmdale woman was killed Friday when her car crashed through lowered railroad crossing arms and slammed into a freight train near Palmdale Airport, authorities said.

The driver, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was driving north on Sierra Highway near 6th Street East about 8 a.m. when she collided with the northbound train, California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Weldy said.

The woman apparently did not see the lowered crossing arms, which straddle the railroad tracks at a jog in the road, until she was nearly upon them, Weldy said. She applied the brakes but broke through the arms and struck the front engine of the train, Weldy said.