OCEANSIDE -- A group of black men used a baseball bat early Monday morning to beat a car filled with Latino men and woman whose escape was blocked by a train at a rail crossing, police said.

At about 3 a.m., the Latino group was in the area of Mission Avenue and Pacific Street after a walk along the beach, Officer Kim Rainwater said.

As the Latinos were getting into their vehicle to leave, a group of six black men approached them, harassing them and making derogatory statements about Latinos, Rainwater said.

The Latino group tried to flee in their car, but were stopped at a rail crossing while a train passed at Mission Avenue and North Myers Street, Rainwater said.

The black men followed in a sport utility vehicle and attacked the Latino group's car with baseball bats, Rainwater said.

A witness heard the attackers shout negative comments about Latinos, she said.

A man sitting inside the car next to a window suffered minor injuries, she said.

The suspects were wearing dark clothing during the attack and fled the scene in a dark blue or black two-door Ford Explorer.

Police are investigating the case as an assault with a deadly weapon and a possible hate crime, Rainwater said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Oceanside Police Department at (760) 435-4900.