From Freeway to Train Tracks: Towed Car Takes Wild Plunge in Castro Valley Chaos
CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. – A bizarre three-car collision on Interstate 580 sent an unoccupied vehicle plummeting onto BART tracks below on Tuesday afternoon, creating a domino effect of disruptions that left commuters stranded and traffic paralyzed for hours.
The incident unfolded at approximately 2:54 p.m. near Eden Canyon Road when a tow truck hauling an unoccupied car was involved in a crash with two other moving vehicles. The impact sent the towed vehicle flying off the flatbed and onto the BART tracks running parallel to the freeway, where it sparked a small brush fire upon landing.
The Crash
California Highway Patrol Officer Daniel Rodriguez confirmed that chunks of concrete flew off the center divider during the violent collision. A red truck at the scene showed significant damage, including a shattered windshield with a large hole. The tow truck driver was transported to a hospital with what officials initially described as major injuries, though the full extent remains unclear. They were the only person injured in the incident.
“Upon arrival, our officers located a vehicle on the BART tracks,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t know exactly how the crash happened yet.” The investigation into what caused the three-vehicle collision remains ongoing.
Transit Nightmare
The airborne car’s landing created immediate chaos for both highway and transit systems. BART service between Castro Valley and West Dublin/Pleasanton stations was completely shut down for nearly three hours, with the transit agency initially offering no estimated restoration time and advising riders to seek “alternate means of transportation.”
Notably, BART did not provide a bus bridge or shuttle service during the shutdown, leaving frustrated commuters to fend for themselves during the busy evening rush hour.
Kim McDade, a BART rider trying to reach Livermore, said she waited 45 minutes at the Castro Valley station. “All they’re telling us is it’s not a BART issue and you have to try to find a way to get home on your own,” she said. “That did not sit well with her.”
McDade made a pact with fellow stranded riders to share rideshare costs, though many struggled to book cars due to drivers canceling amid the heavy traffic. Another commuter at Bay Fair station waited 45 minutes for a taxi as Uber drivers repeatedly canceled his requests.
Rebecca Neely, another affected rider, said there needs to be better communication during incidents that impact BART service.
The Recovery
Alameda County Fire Department responded to both the crash and the brush fire ignited by the car’s landing. All westbound lanes of I-580 were closed for hours, with eastbound traffic also impacted. Traffic backups stretched for miles, spilling onto side streets throughout Castro Valley.
Special equipment, including a crane, was brought in to hoist the damaged vehicle off the tracks. The car was finally removed just before 5:30 p.m., allowing BART to inspect the tracks and begin single-tracking service between the affected stations.
By 5:52 p.m.—nearly three hours after the incident began—BART announced full service restoration, though major delays persisted in both directions. All freeway lanes reopened shortly after 6 p.m.
BART officials said major repairs to the affected track would take place overnight after service ended.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly transportation infrastructure can become interconnected in disaster—when a freeway crash literally falls into transit territory, creating a cascade of disruptions that ripple across an entire region’s commute.
