|
|
|
|
|
31 May 2024
|
Amtrak train strikes pickup truck in North Tonawanda; three killed, including a six-year-old boy, US
|
|
|
Three people were killed when an Amtrak train collided with a pickup truck in North Tonawanda, north of Buffalo in the US, Friday night, 17 May 2024. Amtrak train 281, en-route from New York to Niagara Falls, struck the vehicle while traveling north, as per a statement from Amtrak. Motorist Chrissy Galla Reid witnessed a Dodge pickup truck get trapped between a pair of railroad gates and struck by a northbound Amtrak train while at the stoplight at River Road and Felton Street in North Tonawanda. The impact “folded the car in half,” Reid said. The train’s momentum dragged it almost to the next stoplight at Ward and River roads, Reid and North Tonawanda firefighters said.
North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters Local 1333 said in a statement ofn Facebook, “At approximately 1959hrs last night, Platoon 4 under the Command of Assistant Chief Tim Berecz and Captain Matt Smolinski, were dispatched to a reported car struck by a train at Felton Street and River Road. The Still Alarm assignment of Engine 6, Rescue 1 and Car 10 responded. On arrival, a vehicle vs train accident was confirmed, with the train being closer to Ward Road. Further size up revealed three patients with heavy entrapment and extrication needed.”
“Command requested Truck 1 for extra extrication equipment along with all available off duty manpower. Three ambulances from Twin City Ambulance Corporation were also requested. Command additionally reported three trauma codes. Resuscitative efforts were initiated as the patients were extricated, but terminated in the field. Crews remained on scene for nearly two hours.”
“We would like to thank United Auto Towing for their assistance at the scene. We would also like to thank Tri Community Ambulance Service Inc. who provided a standby crew and ambulance at NTFD Headquarters during the incident to ensure coverage in the City. Following the incident, all First Responders on scene were debriefed and offered Peer Counselling and mental health resources should they be needed. The scene was left with the NTPD and several other entities who will be investigating.”
North Tonawanda Police Department Captain Daryl Truty said that a 69-year-old male, 66-year-old female and six-year-old boy were killed in the crash. The deceased were not identified by name and the investigation is ongoing, Captain Truty said.
An Amtrak spokesperson confirmed that Amtrak Train 281 was involved in the crash, adding that none of the 21 passengers were injured. Amtrak is involved in the investigation, the spokesperson said.
Reid, a Kenmore resident, and Francisco Dejesus, a 27-year-old also from Erie County, described their firsthand accounts of events preceding the crash on the tracks just a few steps from River Road. They explained that several vehicles from an earlier police traffic stop on the east side of the tracks on Felton Street ultimately prevented the pickup truck from passing. Before the truck could turn around, it was sandwiched between the railroad gates, they said independently.
“I think it could have been handled differently,” Dejesus said regarding law enforcement’s response. “They should have never stopped so dangerously close to train tracks.”
Dejesus’ Jeep had broken down at about 19h00 and he pulled into an empty lot away from the railroad tracks, on the south side of Felton Street. He called his brother to pick him up. When his brother arrived a half hour later, he was pulled over by police officers for not having a front license plate or insurance, Dejesus said.
Over a period of 25 minutes, Dejesus said a towing company arrived to remove his brother’s vehicle and traffic was still moving down one lane of Felton Street but a law enforcement vehicle was parked very close to the tracks. As the “ding, ding, ding” of the rail warning sounded, Dejesus said an officer moved his vehicle away from the tracks.
From River Road, Reid said she watched the driver of a blue pickup turn right from River onto Felton, attempting to manoeuvre around the law enforcement vehicles and tow truck. The driver of the pickup could not navigate around them and ended up on the railroad tracks, she said.
“Very suddenly,” within 20 seconds, red railroad signal lights flashed and the railroad gates came down, trapping the vehicle on the tracks, Reid said. The approaching train blew its horn continuously.
Reid remembered shaking as the events unfolded.
She blocked traffic from River Road to prevent any vehicles from hindering the pickup’s escape, she said. She noticed the window of the pickup was open, she said, so she screamed, “Oh my God, move, move, get out of the way.”
The driver of the pickup backed up but not with enough force to break the railroad gates, she said.
“It happened in a split second,” Dejesus said.
According to the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC), River Road between Ward Road and Wheatfield Street was closed to traffic until about 03h30am Saturday.
Friday’s incident was the second fatal crash involving a train and vehicle near River Road this year. Around 07h00am on 16 January, a 29-year-old Wheatfield woman in a Hyundai Elantra was struck by an Amtrak train at River and Whitmer roads in North Tonawanda and died hours later at ECMC. River’s intersection with Witmer is less than a mile from the Felton Street rail crossing.
Source: North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters Local 1333, Buffalo News, CNN
North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters Local 1333 said in a statement ofn Facebook, “At approximately 1959hrs last night, Platoon 4 under the Command of Assistant Chief Tim Berecz and Captain Matt Smolinski, were dispatched to a reported car struck by a train at Felton Street and River Road. The Still Alarm assignment of Engine 6, Rescue 1 and Car 10 responded. On arrival, a vehicle vs train accident was confirmed, with the train being closer to Ward Road. Further size up revealed three patients with heavy entrapment and extrication needed.”
“Command requested Truck 1 for extra extrication equipment along with all available off duty manpower. Three ambulances from Twin City Ambulance Corporation were also requested. Command additionally reported three trauma codes. Resuscitative efforts were initiated as the patients were extricated, but terminated in the field. Crews remained on scene for nearly two hours.”
“We would like to thank United Auto Towing for their assistance at the scene. We would also like to thank Tri Community Ambulance Service Inc. who provided a standby crew and ambulance at NTFD Headquarters during the incident to ensure coverage in the City. Following the incident, all First Responders on scene were debriefed and offered Peer Counselling and mental health resources should they be needed. The scene was left with the NTPD and several other entities who will be investigating.”
North Tonawanda Police Department Captain Daryl Truty said that a 69-year-old male, 66-year-old female and six-year-old boy were killed in the crash. The deceased were not identified by name and the investigation is ongoing, Captain Truty said.
An Amtrak spokesperson confirmed that Amtrak Train 281 was involved in the crash, adding that none of the 21 passengers were injured. Amtrak is involved in the investigation, the spokesperson said.
Reid, a Kenmore resident, and Francisco Dejesus, a 27-year-old also from Erie County, described their firsthand accounts of events preceding the crash on the tracks just a few steps from River Road. They explained that several vehicles from an earlier police traffic stop on the east side of the tracks on Felton Street ultimately prevented the pickup truck from passing. Before the truck could turn around, it was sandwiched between the railroad gates, they said independently.
“I think it could have been handled differently,” Dejesus said regarding law enforcement’s response. “They should have never stopped so dangerously close to train tracks.”
Dejesus’ Jeep had broken down at about 19h00 and he pulled into an empty lot away from the railroad tracks, on the south side of Felton Street. He called his brother to pick him up. When his brother arrived a half hour later, he was pulled over by police officers for not having a front license plate or insurance, Dejesus said.
Over a period of 25 minutes, Dejesus said a towing company arrived to remove his brother’s vehicle and traffic was still moving down one lane of Felton Street but a law enforcement vehicle was parked very close to the tracks. As the “ding, ding, ding” of the rail warning sounded, Dejesus said an officer moved his vehicle away from the tracks.
From River Road, Reid said she watched the driver of a blue pickup turn right from River onto Felton, attempting to manoeuvre around the law enforcement vehicles and tow truck. The driver of the pickup could not navigate around them and ended up on the railroad tracks, she said.
“Very suddenly,” within 20 seconds, red railroad signal lights flashed and the railroad gates came down, trapping the vehicle on the tracks, Reid said. The approaching train blew its horn continuously.
Reid remembered shaking as the events unfolded.
She blocked traffic from River Road to prevent any vehicles from hindering the pickup’s escape, she said. She noticed the window of the pickup was open, she said, so she screamed, “Oh my God, move, move, get out of the way.”
The driver of the pickup backed up but not with enough force to break the railroad gates, she said.
“It happened in a split second,” Dejesus said.
According to the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC), River Road between Ward Road and Wheatfield Street was closed to traffic until about 03h30am Saturday.
Friday’s incident was the second fatal crash involving a train and vehicle near River Road this year. Around 07h00am on 16 January, a 29-year-old Wheatfield woman in a Hyundai Elantra was struck by an Amtrak train at River and Whitmer roads in North Tonawanda and died hours later at ECMC. River’s intersection with Witmer is less than a mile from the Felton Street rail crossing.
Source: North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters Local 1333, Buffalo News, CNN
