3 dead after vehicle struck by train in North Tonawanda
You can see view Sunday’s full update from officials in the video player below.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Three people were killed after a vehicle was hit by an Amtrak train Friday night at Felton Street and River Road in North Tonawanda, fire officials announced.
Officials said the crash took place just before 8 p.m., and when crews arrived, it was determined that three individuals were trapped inside the vehicle and required extrication. Life-saving efforts were initiated on the occupants of the vehicle, but they were all declared deceased at the scene.
North Tonawanda police identified the occupants as 69-year-old David McMinn, 66-year-old Olive Geldart and 6-year-old Ra’Mari Geldart. Buffalo Public Schools said in a statement that the child was a student at BPS 90 Early Childhood Center on A Street.
Eyewitness Chrissy Reid said a pickup truck turned right off of River Road onto Felton Street when it got stuck behind emergency vehicles, a disabled automobile, a tow truck and pedestrians. The pickup truck pulled onto the tracks and within 20 seconds, the crossing gates came down, she said.
“The car was backing up, but it was almost like they just felt trapped by the guard rails and wouldn’t bust through them,” Reid said. “The train hit on impact and it was just not that far from me and when it hit, the blue truck just folded around the train.”
Police were doing a saturation patrol in the area on Friday night, with several local police agencies in the area doing a crackdown on warrant arrests as well as conducting traffic stops. A traffic stop was being conducted with a Lewiston officer in the area just before the crash. North Tonawanda police chief Keith Glass said in a press conference Sunday that he did not know the reason for the traffic stop.
River Road between Wheatfield Street and Ward Road was closed for roughly seven hours due to the crash, but reopened around early Saturday morning, according to NITTEC.
Amtrak said the train was traveling from New York City and heading towards Niagara Falls and there were no injuries reported among the 21 passengers and crew onboard.
“What happened was a tragedy,” North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said in a statement to WIVB News 4. “Our police and fire department handled the scene extremely well, but our police department has an ongoing investigation on a few matters that may or may not be able to comment on tomorrow.”
An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
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