Monday, March 12, 2007

Trains ALWAYS win...


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Two 19-year-olds died Sunday night after driving around traffic stopped at a railroad crossing and into the path of two moving trains, according to police.

Witnesses said the driver of the Chevrolet Cavalier ignored crossing arms and flashing lights at the rail crossing in the 6800 block of Trout River Boulevard about 8:45 p.m. The car was struck by a northbound Amtrak train, then a southbound CSX train.

"This particular person ... tried to go against the odds and beat the train across the track," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson said. "They didn't bank on two trains coming simultaneously across the track."

The Amtrak Silver Star had just left Jacksonville when it slammed into the car, which ended up wedged underneath the train and was carried more than 1,000 feet.

Police identified the victims as Timothy Love and Angela Felix, both 19. Because the vehicle was demolished and in several pieces, police said there was not enough physical evidence to identify which of the victims was driving the car.

Love's mother said he was out with his girlfriend. When she saw the wreck on the news, she worried it might be them.

"I immediately called 911 and asked if they knew who the victims were," Tonna Perry said. "It was my son."

Authorities said the trains had sounded their whistles and it appeared the crossing arms were down and lights were flashing properly.

"I just ask nobody else to try that," Perry told Channel 4's Emily Pantelides. "We lost a brother, a son, a nephew."

None of the 254 passengers on the Amtrak train was hurt, and no railroad employees were injured.

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