San Clemente Man Identifed as Train Collision Victim

By Jim Shilander

A San Clemente man was killed by an Amtrak train on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

Dan Tavarez, 59, was struck and killed by the southbound Pacific Surfliner at approximately 4:20 p.m. Sheriff’s officials indicated that Tavarez had been walking along the tracks near the junction of Camino Capistrano and the Pacific Coast Highway when he was struck. The case is still being investigated.

Chief of Police Services John Coppock indicated that it would likely be difficult to determine why the collision took place. He encouraged residents to take lessons from the incident however, suggesting that people only cross the tracks at designated areas, rather than just anywhere.

“The trains come up so fast people don’t hear or see them, Coppock said. “At the designated areas there are the arms and signals that let you know what’s coming up.”