Unruly Dog Drags Owner To Tragic Train Death

HAYWARD, Calif. -- A woman was struck and killed by a Capital Corridor train in Hayward when the dog she was walking dragged her onto the tracks and into the path of the oncoming locomotive, according to authorities.

The fatal accident took place just hours after a pedestrian died from being struck by an Amtrak train in Berkeley.

According to Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. J.D. Nelson, at about 2:15 p.m. two people with a dog were attempting to cross the tracks ahead of an approaching train just north of the Hayward Station near the intersection of West Blossom Way and Meekland Avenue.

"The crossing guards were down. The gentleman was able to make it through," Nelson explained. "She tried to stop, realizing she probably couldn’t make it and the dog dragged itself and her into the train."

Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train No. 535, bound for San Jose, was likely traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour when it struck and instantly killed both the woman and the dog, a pit bull.

Nelson said the woman, in her early-to-mid 30s, was unable to simply let the dog go because of how she had the leash wrapped around her hand.

A number of distraught family members were on the scene of the crash early Thursday evening. Family members identified the woman as 31-year-old Vida Silver. Relatives told KTVU Silver and the 100-pound pit bull named Mama were inseperable.

"Her dog was her baby. Everywhere she went, the dog went," said Silver's cousin Tonya Neves. "The dog was always there."