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Chester community mourns after two children fatally struck by Amtrak train
A woman had seen them playing on the tracks moments before they train came through. She had warned them to leave the right-of-way. They ignored her and stayed on the rails.
LOCAL NEWS
Chester community mourns after two children fatally struck by Amtrak train
BY MARCELLA BAIETTO, CBS NEWS PHILADELPHIA STAFF
APRIL 30, 2023 / 12:21 PM / CBS PHILADELPHIA
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- The community in Chester is mourning after officials say two children were hit and killed by a train. An Amtrak spokesperson says Train 161 was headed from New York to Washington, D.C. when it had to be stopped at around 4:40 p.m. because of a "trespassing incident."
People gathered in prayer Saturday following the death of two children who were struck by an Amtrak train.
"It just broke my heart," Clare Thomas said.
The members of the Chester Police Chaplain confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia that the victims were two young children. Officials say the incident happened on an Amtrak rail line on Engle Street near West Fourth Street.
{snip}
Chester community mourns after two children fatally struck by Amtrak train
BY MARCELLA BAIETTO, CBS NEWS PHILADELPHIA STAFF
APRIL 30, 2023 / 12:21 PM / CBS PHILADELPHIA
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- The community in Chester is mourning after officials say two children were hit and killed by a train. An Amtrak spokesperson says Train 161 was headed from New York to Washington, D.C. when it had to be stopped at around 4:40 p.m. because of a "trespassing incident."
People gathered in prayer Saturday following the death of two children who were struck by an Amtrak train.
"It just broke my heart," Clare Thomas said.
The members of the Chester Police Chaplain confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia that the victims were two young children. Officials say the incident happened on an Amtrak rail line on Engle Street near West Fourth Street.
{snip}
ON SCENE:
Police confirmed 2 people were struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Chester, PA.
We’re working to get more information.
@CBSPhiladelphia
Police confirmed 2 people were struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Chester, PA.
We’re working to get more information.
@CBSPhiladelphia
Link to tweet
As of 4:42pm ET, Train 161 is currently stopped north of Wilmington (WIL) due to a trespasser incident. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Link to tweet
ALERT: As of 4:56pm ET, All train traffic is temporarily stopped between Wilmington (WIL) and Philadelphia (PHL) due to ongoing police activity in Chester, PA. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.
Link to tweet
ALERT: As of 7:34pm ET, Due to ongoing police activity, Trains traveling through Wilmington should expect delays. 1 out of 4 tracks have been released. Trains are operating through the area at reduced speeds. We will update.
Link to tweet
UPDATE: As of 9:02pm ET, Train 161 is back on the move and currently operating approximately 5 hours late out of Wilmington (WIL).
Link to tweet
UPDATE ALERT: As of 9:09pm ET: The hold on three of the four tracks north of Wilmington (WIL) has been released and cleared for normal speeds. Delays are still expected due to residual effects. Northbound trains will begin moving in the area shortly.
Link to tweet
5 replies
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D.C.-bound Amtrak train kills two minors on the tracks in Chester, Pa.
By Antonio Olivo
April 30, 2023 at 11:29 a.m. EDT
Two juveniles who were on a train track in Chester, Pa., on Saturday were struck and killed by a D.C.-bound Amtrak train, police officials there said. ... Train 161, heading to D.C. from New York, struck the minors at 4:29 p.m. Saturday, Amtrak said. ... None of the 368 passengers or crew members on board suffered injuries, the company said. The passengers were transferred to another train to continue their journey.
Amtrak personnel help passengers board a new train Saturday after their original train, headed from New York to Washington, struck and killed two juveniles on the tracks in Chester, Pa. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
Chester city police were investigating the incident Sunday and had not released the children’s identities or ages.
In a statement, Amtrak cautioned against trespassing on train tracks. ... “Anyone not authorized to be on railroad property, including using the tracks as a ‘shortcut’ or not heeding the warnings of the approaching train, is trespassing as they are on the property without a lawful reason to do so,” the statement said.
By Antonio Olivo
Antonio Olivo covers government, politics and other issues in Northern Virginia. He has also reported from Afghanistan and Mexico after joining The Washington Post in 2013. Twitter https://twitter.com/aolivo
By Antonio Olivo
April 30, 2023 at 11:29 a.m. EDT
Two juveniles who were on a train track in Chester, Pa., on Saturday were struck and killed by a D.C.-bound Amtrak train, police officials there said. ... Train 161, heading to D.C. from New York, struck the minors at 4:29 p.m. Saturday, Amtrak said. ... None of the 368 passengers or crew members on board suffered injuries, the company said. The passengers were transferred to another train to continue their journey.
Amtrak personnel help passengers board a new train Saturday after their original train, headed from New York to Washington, struck and killed two juveniles on the tracks in Chester, Pa. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
Chester city police were investigating the incident Sunday and had not released the children’s identities or ages.
In a statement, Amtrak cautioned against trespassing on train tracks. ... “Anyone not authorized to be on railroad property, including using the tracks as a ‘shortcut’ or not heeding the warnings of the approaching train, is trespassing as they are on the property without a lawful reason to do so,” the statement said.
By Antonio Olivo
Antonio Olivo covers government, politics and other issues in Northern Virginia. He has also reported from Afghanistan and Mexico after joining The Washington Post in 2013. Twitter https://twitter.com/aolivo
2 struck, killed by southbound Amtrak train in Delaware County; Community in mourning
There is no word yet on either of the victims' identities.
By 6abc Digital Staff and Bob Brooks WPVI logo
Saturday, April 29, 2023 11:22PM
CHESTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Two people were killed after being struck by an Amtrak train in Chester, Delaware County on Saturday afternoon. ... It happened around 4:30 p.m. on the Amtrak tracks near the 400 block of Wilson Street. ... Officials say the two victims were struck and killed by the 161 Amtrak train heading southbound to Washington D.C. ... The train came to a stop several blocks later at Highland Avenue, according to officials. ... There is no word yet on either of the victims' identities.
Officials have also not confirmed the ages of the victims, however, Action News spoke with a woman who says she saw a group of children on the train tracks shortly before the crash. ... She says she tried to urge them to leave the tracks.
"There was about five, or six, or seven of them. It was a pack of children on the track," recalled Tracey from Chester. "We were getting out of the car and I said, 'Oh, look at them children up there on that track.' I said, 'Ya'll need to come down off that track,' and they just looked, and I said 'Ya'll come down before you have an accident,' and they just laughed and went about their business."
"I just wish the children would have listened," Tracey continued, "and I'm just so sorry."
Authorities are still investigating the incident.
{snip}
There is no word yet on either of the victims' identities.
By 6abc Digital Staff and Bob Brooks WPVI logo
Saturday, April 29, 2023 11:22PM
CHESTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Two people were killed after being struck by an Amtrak train in Chester, Delaware County on Saturday afternoon. ... It happened around 4:30 p.m. on the Amtrak tracks near the 400 block of Wilson Street. ... Officials say the two victims were struck and killed by the 161 Amtrak train heading southbound to Washington D.C. ... The train came to a stop several blocks later at Highland Avenue, according to officials. ... There is no word yet on either of the victims' identities.
Officials have also not confirmed the ages of the victims, however, Action News spoke with a woman who says she saw a group of children on the train tracks shortly before the crash. ... She says she tried to urge them to leave the tracks.
"There was about five, or six, or seven of them. It was a pack of children on the track," recalled Tracey from Chester. "We were getting out of the car and I said, 'Oh, look at them children up there on that track.' I said, 'Ya'll need to come down off that track,' and they just looked, and I said 'Ya'll come down before you have an accident,' and they just laughed and went about their business."
"I just wish the children would have listened," Tracey continued, "and I'm just so sorry."
Authorities are still investigating the incident.
{snip}