LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. — One person was killed Monday after a Tri-Rail train struck a vehicle in Lake Worth Beach, according to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
The incident occurred just after 1 p.m. along Sixth Avenue South.
Victor Garcia, the director of public affairs for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, said that a northbound train hit a vehicle.
Deputies and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue rushed to the scene and confirmed that one person was killed in the crash.
Video recorded at the scene showed that the vehicle caught fire, only leaving a hunk of metal on the tracks.
Garcia said passengers and crews were evacuated from the train. They were then walked to the nearby Lake Worth train station so they could be picked up by another train.
Officials said 65 passengers were on board when the train hit the vehicle.
Passengers on board the Tri-Rail train said they felt the collision.
"I was asleep when I heard the horn," passenger Jason Taveras said. "I looked to the side and [heard a] 'boom,' and then I saw red pieces coming by and then the train stopped, and I heard someone say they hit a car."
"They were telling us to stay inside the train," said Mary Santiago, who said the car fire made some passengers nervous. "We just kind of pushed the door open to get out."
No passengers were hurt in the collision.
The name of the victim has not been released.
Tri-Rail tweeted just before 4:30 p.m. that the tracks were cleared for train traffic to resume.
Tracks have been cleared for train traffic to resume.
— Tri-Rail (@Tri_Rail) May 29, 2023
