SAN FRANCISCO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Two people died Sunday after their car slammed into a light transit train at a rail crossing in San Jose, west California, transit authorities said.

The northbound train of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) went off the track after it hit the car with at least two individuals inside and pulled the car along the track for several meters, only to reduce it into a mangled heap, local TV footage showed.

About 20 passengers were aboard the train at the time of collision; none were injured.

Police said the driver was trying to drive around the railway crossing arms, which were lowered down and functioning normally, but it was not known why he did so.

The fatal crash damaged the overhead pole and electric wires that provide power for the trains, and the light train service along its regular transport line could be closed for 24 hours, VTA said.

San Jose police are leading an investigation into the collision, and no more details were released so far.

Last month, VTA announced a plan to launch a six-month pilot by the end of 2018, designed to increase safety near the light rail in downtown San Jose, which it said is the slowest part of VTA's light rail system.

The transit agency said the safety and speed program is the first step to eventually increase operating speeds in the area.

It said the current design of the transit mall has a flaw that could "sometimes cause unpredictable pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle intrusions into VTA's trackway."