A man and a child were reportedly in the car, which ignored the railroad's crossing arms before being hit
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/amtrak-crash-051126-a630841ded444d26891c806a28d24f3d.jpg "Amtrak train conductor survives crash, but is confronted by at least 4 alligators in the water nearby")
Credit: Sheldon Community Fire & Rescue
NEED TO KNOW
- A vehicle attempted to cross train tracks while the crossing arms were down in Harris County, Texas, and was struck by an oncoming train
- The conductor tried to assist the two injured victims, but was met by four alligators
- An investigation into the crash is ongoing
A conductor attempted to help a man and a child who were injured after a car crossed the tracks into the path of an oncoming Amtrak train in Texas. Instead, the employee was confronted by four alligators.
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 10, deputies responded to a “major crash” between a vehicle and a train in Harris County, the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable's Office said in an alert.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle had ignored the down crossing arms and was struck by the train, officials said. The car was second in a line of vehicles as the crossing arms descended, and was hit by the train going 60 MPH as the driver attempted to cross the tracks, Sheldon Community Fire & Rescue said in a statement.
When the train operator tried to help the injured passengers, they encountered at least four alligators in the water, the agency said.
“Both the driver and the passenger were transported to the hospital, one in critical condition,” the constable’s office said. Officials confirmed that the victims were a man and a child, ABC affiliate KTRK and CW affiliate KIAH reported. An initial investigation indicated that the pair was a father and son, and officials said that they were still determining whether the driver may have been intoxicated, KTRK reported.
Credit: Sheldon Community Fire & Rescue
An investigation is ongoing. The Harris County Precinct 3 Constable's Office and Amtrak did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
"You should always be mindful when crossing tracks, whether or not there is a train or lights are on," Alex Kampf with the Harris County Sheriff's Office told the outlet.
Credit: Sheldon Community Fire & Rescue
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"Some tracks don't have warnings. Here in Harris County, the tracks have warning, and you shall yield to the signal, train horns, and lights, etc.,” he continued. “It's very dangerous. The kinetic energy and momentum from the train, you're unlikely to walk away unscathed.”