Officials: 6 killed including 2 teens, child in train versus vehicle crash

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Six people were killed Saturday evening in Hillsborough County, Florida, after a train struck a vehicle, officials say.

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Update 3:31 p.m. EDT Sept. 24: Officials confirm, according to The Associated Press, that three adults, two teenagers and a child were killed in the crash Saturday night. One adult remains in the hospital and has life-threatening injuries.

The vehicle involved in the crash was a Cadillac Escalade that was driven by Jose G. Hernandez, 52, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said, according to the AP.

Officials said that a car in the area and the engineer of the train alerted the SUV with their horns but were too late. The SUV reportedly flipped multiple times and five passengers were ejected from the SUV. Those passengers all died at the scene. The driver, Hernandez, died at the hospital from his injuries, the AP reported.

The passengers were identified as Enedelia Hernandez, 50; Anaelia Hernandez, 22; Jakub A. Lopez and Alyssa Hernandez, both 17; and Julian Hernandez, 9, the AP reported. Authorities did not release information about how the victims were related but at the time of the crash, they were heading to a birthday party.

Original story: The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said that the crash happened just before 7 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 92 in the Jim Lefler Circle Area, according to WFLA.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found three adults and two juveniles dead, according to the sheriff’s office.

Two adults were found injured and were taken to the hospital. Their conditions have not been released.

A Cadillac Escalade was heading to a party or event, according to WFLA, when it approached the train crossing. The crossing reportedly did not have arms but it did have a stop sign.

The freight train was reportedly going about 55 mph at the time of the crash, according to the news outlet.

Investigators say that according to witness statements and video from the area, the vehicle entered the train’s path but it is unclear why.

“The word devastating doesn’t even begin to describe the tragedy that unfolded here,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Hillsborough County lost a family today, and our hearts are shattered.”

The identities of the individuals involved in the crash have not yet been released.