Six Dead, Including Three Children, in Tragic Train-SUV Collision at Florida Railroad Crossing

The SUV was carrying seven people on their way to a quinceañera when it crossed the railroad tracks without stopping, leading to a devastating collision.

Tragic Railroad Crossing Incident:

• A horrifying train-SUV collision in Plant City, Florida, claimed the lives of six people, including three children, in a tragic incident on Saturday evening.
• The victims, members of a family and two friends, were en route to a quinceañera, a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday.

Lack of Warning Signals:

• The incident occurred at a railroad crossing marked by a stop sign and a railroad crossing sign but lacked crossing arms or a warning bell, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
• Sheriff Chronister expressed the enormity of the tragedy and its devastating impact.

Details of the Collision:

• Video footage reviewed by investigators revealed that the SUV approached the railroad tracks and proceeded to cross without stopping, resulting in a “slow crawl,” as described by Sheriff Chronister.
• The train’s conductor attempted to slow down and sounded the horn, while a nearby witness in another vehicle also honked in an attempt to get the driver’s attention.
• The collision transpired around 6:45 p.m., leading to catastrophic consequences for the SUV, which was violently tossed and flipped multiple times.

Identification of Victims:

• The victims include the driver, 52-year-old Jose G. Hernandez, and passengers Enedelia Hernandez (50), Jakub A. Lopez (17), Alyssa Hernandez (17), Anaelia Hernandez (22), and Julian Hernandez (9).
• Guillermo E. Gama III (23), the front-seat passenger, survived but remains in critical condition at the hospital.
• All passengers in the vehicle were either minor children, adult children, or friends of the children.

Community in Mourning:

• The tragedy deeply impacted the community, with Plant City, a city of about 40,000 residents located approximately 25 miles outside Tampa, mourning the loss of a family.
• The collision’s severe consequences have left the community shattered, as expressed by Sheriff Chronister.

The devastating train-SUV collision, resulting in multiple fatalities, has left a community in mourning, raising questions about safety measures at the railroad crossing.