Current:Home > My6 people, including 3 children, killed in Florida after train crashes into SUV on tracks -Secure Horizon Growth
6 people, including 3 children, killed in Florida after train crashes into SUV on tracks
View
Date:2025-04-15 14:01:19
PLANT CITY, FL — Six people, including three children, are dead after a train crashed into their SUV in central Florida on Saturday evening while they were on their way to a birthday party. The collision happened in Plant City, which is about 25 miles east of Tampa in Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County Sherif Chad Chronister explained during a news conference that seven people were inside a Cadillac Escalade when the crash happened, with five of the passengers being "violently ejected" from the vehicle upon impact, CBS News affiliate WTSP reported.
Video from the front of the freight train showed the driver approaching the crossing in an area of Highway 92 in Plant City that reportedly wasn't signalized. However, instead of yielding at the posted stop sign, the driver slowly crawled across the tracks, Chronister said.
"The conductor of the train did everything he could to try to slow this train down," he said. "He signaled these loud train horns that they're equipped with along with the flashing lights."
"We know that even from the witness that was parked by the tracks that he also was hitting the horn of his vehicle – all trying to get the driver's attention and get [them] to stop and look both ways," the sheriff continued.
Once the train collided with the SUV, the vehicle reportedly catapulted and flipped multiple times before landing a distance away from its origin.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was first alerted of the crash around 6:48 p.m. from an iPhone that detected the collision, Chronister said. Once officers arrived, "they immediately went to work," he said.
Crews started working on prying the vehicle open, which Chronister compared to a crushed soft drink can, according to WTSP.
The driver and front passenger were rescued from within the car, according to Chronister, and were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
It was later announced Sunday morning that the driver died from his injuries and was identified as 52-year-old Jose G. Hernandez. The other victims of the crash were also identified:
- Enedelia Hernandez, 50.
- Jakub A. Lopez, 17.
- Alyssa Hernandez, 17.
- Anaelia Hernandez, 22.
- Julian Hernandez, 9.
The five passengers, who were reportedly violently ejected from the SUV, were pronounced dead on the scene.
One passenger remains hospitalized in critical condition and was identified as 23-year-old Guillermo Gama.
"I want to take just a moment to ask this community to say an extra prayer tonight," Chronister said. "Say an extra prayer tonight for the first responders, for the deputies who had to go out here and as they were canvassing the area looking for survivors unfortunately only found more people who lost their lives from this tragedy."
"Also want to ask you to pray for this family ... Our hearts are shattered for the loss of this family and the tragedy that occurred here this evening," he added.
- In:
- Car Crash
- Train Crash
- Florida
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Biden extends State of the Union invitation to a Texas woman who sued to get an abortion and lost
- Robitussin's maker recalls cough syrup for possible high levels of yeast
- This plant and these animals could be added to the Endangered Species Act
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- American founder of Haitian orphanage to appear in court on sexual abuse charges
- Alabama set to execute inmate with nitrogen gas, a never before used method
- French farmers edge closer to Paris as protests ratchet up pressure on President Macron
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Turkey’s central bank hikes key interest rate again to 45% to battle inflation
Ranking
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Families of those killed in the 2002 Bali bombings testify at hearing for Guantanamo detainees
- Gene therapy shows promise for an inherited form of deafness
- Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership, lifting key hurdle to entry into military alliance
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Report on sex abuse in Germany’s Protestant Church documents at least 2,225 victims
- Iran disqualifies former moderate president from running for reelection to influential assembly
- Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit resigns after leaked tape showed him floating a job for Kari Lake to skip Senate race
Recommendation
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
American founder of Haitian orphanage to appear in court on sexual abuse charges
Chiefs vs. Ravens AFC championship game weather forecast: Rain expected all game
Woman, 41, gives birth on sidewalk, drags baby by umbilical cord, Hawaii police say
Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans': Premiere date, cast, trailer, what to know about new season
Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit resigns after leaked tape showed him floating a job for Kari Lake to skip Senate race
Sofía Vergara Shares Her One Dating Rule After Joe Manganiello Split