2 dead after driver tried to beat packed Amtrak train at rail crossing, Texas cops say

Two people are dead after a packed Amtrak passenger train crashed into a car at a railroad crossing in Texas, according to police.

The driver of the car, a Chrysler 300 sedan, was apparently trying to beat the train at a northeast Houston crossing when they collided Saturday night, April 16, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

“A driver began travelling around the crossing arms, when the approaching train struck the vehicle,” he said. The arms were down and all warning signals, lights and sounds, were working properly.

A man and woman were thrown from the car, which burst into flames on impact. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

There were more than 80 passengers on the train but none was seriously hurt, Amtrak officials told TV station KTRK.

This story was originally published April 17, 2022 at 7:26 AM with the headline "2 dead after driver tried to beat packed Amtrak train at rail crossing, Texas cops say."