Six lives, including those of three children, were lost when a freight train collided with an SUV on railroad tracks in Hillsborough County, Florida, according to CNN.

The Florida train crash happened Saturday evening, as reported by the sheriff's office.

The aftermath of the collision left an indelible mark on first responders, with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister describing the SUV, a Cadillac Escalade, as resembling "a soft drink can that's been smashed" during a press conference held on the same day.

The freight train was traveling at speeds exceeding 55 mph at the time of the collision.

The SUV, carrying seven individuals en route to a quinceañera party, tragically bore the brunt of the impact, Sheriff Chronister disclosed.

Video footage from a train-mounted camera depicted the SUV's driver approaching the railroad crossing, proceeding slowly without stopping to check both ways, according to the sheriff.

Despite the conductor's efforts to slow down the train, coupled with the blaring horns and flashing lights as warnings, the SUV's tragic course remained unaltered.

As a witness parked alongside the tracks sounded his horn to alert the SUV's driver, the collision became inevitable.

Upon impact, the SUV was violently catapulted, somersaulting multiple times before coming to rest at a significant distance from the crossing, the sheriff informed reporters.

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Victims of Florida Train Crash Identified

The tragic incident claimed the lives of five individuals who were forcefully ejected from the vehicle, with a sixth person succumbing to injuries in the hospital overnight, per USA TODAY.

The victims were identified as the driver, 52-year-old Jose G. Hernandez, along with passengers Enedelia Hernandez, 50; Jakub A. Lopez, 17; Alyssa Hernandez, 17; Anaelia Hernandez, 22; and Julian Hernandez, 9. The front-seat passenger, 23-year-old Guillermo E. Gama III, survived but remains in critical condition.

The passengers in Jose Hernandez's vehicle included his minor children, an adult child, and two friends of the children, said Jessica Lang, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office.

All individuals involved were believed to be residents of Plant City, a community located approximately 25 miles outside of Tampa in central Florida, with a population of around 40,000 residents.

Railroad Crossing Where Florida Train Crash Happened Lacks Warning Devices

Notably, the railroad crossing lacked crossing arms and featured only a stop sign, an issue Sheriff Chronister attributed to the road's infrequent use.

It primarily led to a small number of homes and was considered a privately maintained access road, the Miami Herald noted.

Michael Callanan, a rail safety expert, explained that the road's private ownership exempted it from the requirement of installing warning devices.

Some neighbors in the area voiced concerns about the crossing's safety, as similar situations had been observed previously, ABC Action News reports.

CSX, a railroad company predominantly operating in the Eastern United States, issued a statement expressing condolences to those affected by the tragic incident. The company pledged its support to local law enforcement as the investigation into the incident continues.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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