At 8:50 a.m. today, Tuesday, May 24, an unidentified female was killed by a passing westbound Metrolink train at  Cambridge Avenue south of Bonita, according to Claremont police. Two classes from Sycamore Elementary School were on board, but police confirm no one on board suffered injuries of any kind.

Jim Elsasser, superintendent of the Claremont Unified School District, said two classes of upper-graders from Sycamore were headed to Union Station for a day field trip when the accident occurred. Two additional classes of fourth through sixth graders were waiting at the Claremont Depot to board a second train.

“Kids were held on the train until about 11 a.m. while officials completed the investigation,” he said.

After the “all-clear,” Mr. Elsasser explained that the train continued on from Cambridge Avenue to the Garey Avenue Metrolink station, where CUSD had a bus waiting to bring the students back to Sycamore.

“The Claremont police did an amazing job of supporting our staff and students,” he said. “They had officers on the train waiting with the kids and providing support. We also had many parent volunteers on the train supporting our students through the ordeal.”

Students then went back to classes. The district provided a team of psychologists and counselors at Sycamore for students and staff who were struggling.

“We hare happy to say that all our kids are all safe,” Mr. Elsasser said.

The COURIER will provide updates as information becomes available.

—Kathryn Dunn

editor@claremont-courier.com

[UPDATE: The LA County Coroner has identified the victim as Deashanique Miller, 24, of San Francisco. The cause of death was determined to be suicide. See the follow up story here: https://claremont-courier.com/articles/news/t19256-metrolink-accident-claremont]