Five people were killed and a sixth was seriously injured Friday afternoon when a train collided with a van on Pump Branch Road just off U.S. Highway 49 in Stone County, Sheriff Todd Stewart told WLOX. The sheriff said the crash occurred around 1 p.m.
First responders cut their way through woods to reach the wreckage, the station reported. Authorities said six people were inside the van. Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry confirmed five died at the scene and the sixth was airlifted to a hospital in New Orleans, WLOX reported.
WLOX later identified the five killed as 26-year-old Ryan C. Peterson, 23-year-old Demarcus Perkins, 45-year-old Kristina Carver and Carver’s two daughters, 22-year-old Emley Chamblee and 20-year-old Sarabeth Chamblee. The station reported the railroad crossing at Pump Branch Road does not have crossing arms or lights.
Stone County District 1 Supervisor Jimmy Springs told WLOX that crossarms are planned for the crossing but that installation could take up to a year. Railroad crossings without active warning devices can pose increased safety risks, particularly in rural areas.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
