11 taken to hospital after SUV, train collide

A collision between an SUV and a Metro Blue Line train south of downtown late Monday afternoon sent 11 people to area hospitals with minor injuries and delayed the transit service to Long Beach for 90 minutes, authorities said.

The incident, reported about 5:30 p.m., occurred at Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue. About 275 people were on the train. Two passengers immediately reported injuries and eight later complained of pain, said Helen Gilstrap, a spokeswoman with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Pat Marek, a spokesman with the Los Angeles Fire Department, said the SUV’s driver was uninjured but was taken to a hospital for examination. The 10 Blue Line passengers complained of twisted necks, sore backs and knee pain but are expected to be fine, Marek said.

Rail travel on the line between Los Angeles and Long Beach did not resume until about 7 p.m., but a bus bridge was established between the Grand Avenue and San Pedro Street stations to connect passengers to other transit services.