POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Rescue crews worked late into the night Tuesday at the scene of a serious accident that involved an Amtrak train, according to Click10.com.
Investigators said that just after 6 p.m., the driver of a delivery truck tried to beat the train near the 1100 block of West Copans Road (pictured, left) — not far from West Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach.
The 47-year-old Boynton Beach woman, who was driving a truck for clothier Fabiano Ltd. of Pompano Beach, died on impact. Pompano Beach fire officials said that the train engineer suffered cuts to his eyes and was transported to North Broward Medical Center.
Witnesses said that the woman became stuck on the railroad tracks in the westbound lanes as the train approached at a speed of 79 mph. Police said that other drivers tried to move out of the way to let her get out of the train’s path, but the woman was unable to do so.
The collision of Amtrak train number 90, also known as the “Silver Palm,” and the delivery truck, caused the woman to be ejected from the vehicle.
Amtrak officials said that the train was traveling at the right speed and that the engineer did everything possible to try to avoid hitting the truck.
Broward Sheriff’s Office investigators said that the crossing gates appeared to be working properly at the time of the accident.
The train had left Miami at 5 p.m., bound for New York via Tampa. At the time of the wreck, there were 27 passengers and nine crew members aboard the train. None of the passengers reported any injuries.