Six people, including three children, were killed on September 26, 2023, when a train hit an SUV in Florida. The SUV was stopped on the railroad tracks when the train struck it. The sheriff’s office is investigating the cause of the accident.
The victims have been identified as Jose G. Hernandez, 52, the driver of the SUV; his wife, Enedelia Hernandez, 50; their daughter, Anaelia Hernandez, 22; their son, Jakub A. Lopez, 17; and their two grandchildren, Alyssa Hernandez, 17, and Julian Hernandez, 9.
The SUV was reportedly carrying seven people at the time of the accident. One passenger, a 23-year-old man, was able to escape with minor injuries. The other five passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.
The train was owned and operated by CSX Transportation. It was carrying freight from Tampa to Orlando. The train was traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour at the time of the accident.
The sheriff’s office is still investigating the cause of the accident. However, they say that it appears that the SUV was stopped on the railroad tracks when the train struck it. The sheriff’s office is also investigating whether the SUV driver was impaired at the time of the accident. This is a tragic accident, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.