A Saturday evening accident has left six dead and one other in critical condition.
The deadly crash yesterday evening involving a fast-moving train and a white 2020 Cadillac Escalade has claimed another life, bringing the victim count to six, authorities said.
The victims pronounced dead at the scene have been identified as Endelia Hernandez, 51; Jakub A. Lopez, 17; Alyssa Hernandez, 17; Anaelia Hernandez, 22; and Julian Hernandez, 9.
The vehicle driver, Jose Guadalupe Hernandez, 52, died overnight at the hospital. The surviving victim is 23-year-old Guillermo E. Gamma III, who was said to be sitting in the front passenger seat during the time of the crash.
“I continue to ask our community to keep this family, their loved ones and first responders in their thoughts,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “This tragic loss is immense, and the members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and I are praying for peace and comfort for all those impacted.”
The family was heading to a quinceañera when the crash happened sometime before 6:48 p.m. at a crossing on US-92 and Lim Lefler Circle in Plant City.
Chronister shared details about the accident at a press conference last night. He said according to video footage and witness statements, the driver approached the railroad crossing, which is marked with a stop sign and railroad crossing indicator but not mechanical arms, and “slow-crawled” across the tracks but didn’t stop to look both ways. The train conductor signaled the vehicle with his horn and flashing lights and a witness also honked his vehicle’s horn trying to get the driver’s attention to no avail.
When the train made contact with the vehicle, the SUV catapulted into the air and flipped several times before landing a distance from the crossing.
Upon arriving at the scene, Chronister described the vehicle “like a soft drink can that’s been smashed.” HSCO and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue worked the scene and, using the jaws of life extricated the passengers sitting in the driver and front passenger seat of the vehicle and transported them to Lakeland Regional Hospital. According to authorities, the other five passengers had been “violently” ejected from the SUV.
Members of the Victim Specialist Unit responded to the scene to assist and provide information and resources for victims’ families. “In the midst of desperation and senseless tragedy, our goal is to provide every available resource to those in need and lighten their unimaginable burden,” said Chronister. “Those impacted by this devastating loss were met with compassion and the highest level of professionalism while trying to navigate the unspeakable.”
This was not the first time a train struck a vehicle at that railroad crossing. In Feb. 2021, one man died after an Amtrak train struck his truck.
