A tragic incident occurred when a freight train collided with an SUV, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of six individuals, according to ABC reports.
The devastating incident occurred on Saturday night in Hillsborough County, Florida. Among the victims were three adults and three children. One passenger survived but is currently in critical condition.
According to the police statement, the collision took place around 7:00 p.m. when the driver of a white Cadillac Escalade disregarded a stop sign and crossed the train tracks directly in front of the oncoming train. The reasons behind the driver’s presence on the tracks at that moment remain unknown. Tragically, five individuals were ejected from the SUV and pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency responders were able to rescue the driver and front passenger using the jaws of life, and both were transported to the hospital. Unfortunately, the driver passed away later that night.
All of the occupants in the SUV were reportedly members of the same family, accompanied by a family friend. The SUV reportedly rolled over multiple times upon impact and came to rest a considerable distance away from the initial collision point. The occupants were en route to a nearby quinceañera celebration.
Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his condolences, stating, “I continue to ask our community to keep this family, their loved ones, and first responders in their thoughts. This tragic loss is immense, and the members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and I are praying for peace and comfort for all those impacted.”
The railroad crossing where the collision occurred does not have flashing lights or crossing arms to warn drivers of approaching trains. These safety measures would typically be required by law, but in this case, the crossing is located on private property, exempting it from those requirements. An expert in rail safety mentioned to ABC News that the installation of such warnings would likely have prevented this tragic accident.
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