Smashed Window Injures Metrolink Engineer, Halts Train

A Metrolink engineer stopped his northbound train near in Mission Viejo on Tuesday around 2:20 p.m. after someone threw a rock and sent broken glass flying, officials said.

The engineer, who had glass in his face and eyes, was taken to a medical facility in Laguna Niguel but the injuries were not believed to be life threatening, said Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson.

The train stopped at mile marker 190, Johnson said, which is near the park and about 1,000 yards north of Chrisanta.

Meanwhile, Mission Viejo deputies arrested a teen who was allegedly drunk and throwing eggs and rocks near the train tracks on the 24700 block of Chrisanta, Sgt. William McGovern said.

Police were told three or four male teens "walking along the tracks are throwing rocks" at 2:11 p.m., less than 10 minutes before the train was stopped. McGovern said no link has been established between the two incidents.

Johnson would not say if the two incidents are connected.

Per federal regulations, trains can't be operated with broken windshields, Johnson said. Seven passengers on the Riverside-bound train had to wait 90 minutes until train 812 arrived, Johnson said.

With train 802 out of service, buses were dispatched to Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo to pick up passengers who were due to travel to Riverside later in the day. Bus service was also provided for passengers going from Riverside to stops in Orange County.