Three individuals, including a young boy aged 6 years old, lost their lives when an Amtrak train from New York City crashed into a Dodge pickup truck in upstate New York.
The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m.
in North Tonawanda, a town situated in Niagara County near Buffalo.
The local police and fire departments quickly responded to the scene, striving to provide aid to the three individuals inside the vehicle.
However, despite their best efforts, all three occupants were declared dead at the scene.
The victims included a 69-year-old male, a 66-year-old female, and a 6-year-old boy.
Amtrak spokesperson Olivia Irvin stated that none of the 21 passengers on board the train reported any injuries following the collision.
The train had departed from New York City and was en route to Niagara Falls when it struck the vehicle.
Photos shared on Facebook by the North Tonawanda firefighter’s union depicted the aftermath of the crash, with the mangled wreckage of the pickup truck visible in the images.
Emergency personnel were forced to pry open the vehicle in order to remove the three bodies.
The firefighter’s Local 1333 also reported that first responders at the scene were provided counseling and mental health services as part of their debriefing process.
Witnesses who spoke with local media indicated that the truck became lodged between the gates at the railroad crossing, rendering it disabled prior to the collision.
This tragic incident marked the second time this year that a vehicle was struck by a train in North Tonawanda.
On January 16, a 2021 Hyundai Elantra was hit after coming to a full stop on the tracks at Witmer Road.
The 29-year-old driver was rushed to an area hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
The North Tonawanda police and mayoral officials were contacted for comment, but no response has been received as of yet.