Simply put, a mother driving a van with her four kids inside raced a freight train to a level crossing in an atempt to get there before the train. Unfortunately, she didn't see another train coming the opposite way. Both trains hit the car. Two of the kids are dead, the mother and the other kids are now in hospital.
Really quite shocking.
Source.HAMMOND | Two children died Saturday morning after a van filled with a mom and her four kids was struck by two freight trains at a busy residential crossing.
The 32-year-old mother, Edie Bolanos, and her other two children were still listed in critical condition Saturday night after being flown to Chicago hospitals.
Crystal Bolanos, 11, and Anahi Bolanos, 8, were pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt-force trauma by the Lake County coroner's office.
The crash occurred about 10 a.m. at the CSX railroad crossing at Johnson Avenue and Hudson Street, six blocks from the Hammond home where the family lives in the 200 block of East Hanover Street.
Authorities said the mom and kids were southbound on Johnson when their Mercury minivan was struck by a train heading west. The van was then pushed onto the eastbound tracks, where a second train hit it.
Two of the kids were ejected from the van and were dead when police arrived. The van was crumpled on the driver's side and pushed about 30 feet west of Johnson. Smashed bicycle parts and kids' shoes were strewn about.
The eastbound train blocked traffic for about three hours Saturday as police investigated the crash.
The crossing is protected by flashing lights, but it's not equipped with guard arms that lower when a train is approaching. Several neighbors complained that the dangerous intersection should be protected with guard arms.
What the hell possesed her to do this with her four children in the back? Where were they going that couldn't wait another minute? I have no sympathy for this woman.
