“Officers discovered the vehicle went around crossing gates that were down at the time prior to the train striking the vehicle,” police said
NEED TO KNOW
- An Amtrak train struck a vehicle on a railroad crossing in Alabama, killing two
- The victims have been identified as James Cobb, 41, and his 44-year-old fiancée Suzanne Wages
- “Upon further investigation, officers discovered the vehicle went around crossing gates that were down at the time prior to the train striking the vehicle,” police said in a statement
A couple was killed when an Amtrak train struck their vehicle as they attempted to cross railroad tracks in Alabama.
The crash happened on Thursday, Sept. 24, around 10:45 a.m. local time near Bellingrath Road and Peary Road in Theodore, the Mobile Police Department said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered the two vehicle occupants deceased,” police added. “Upon further investigation, officers discovered the vehicle went around crossing gates that were down at the time prior to the train striking the vehicle, ejecting both the driver and passenger.”
Police identified the victims as James Cobb, 41, and Suzanne Wages, 44. Wages was Cobb’s fiancée, according to Fox affiliate WALA.
Pastor Leonard Whitfield, a close family friend of Cobb, just happened to witness the crash less than an hour after last speaking to him, the outlet reported.
“He was pumping gas in his car. And I spoke to him, hollered at him,” Whitfield said. “He’ll throw his hand up and look and give you that smile. Prior to the incident, I came across the track, made a right turn. I heard the boom. When I heard the boom, I turned around, made the block, and came back around.”
As soon as she saw the silver car, which had been sliced in half as a result of the impact, he knew it belonged to his friend.
The train was headed to Mobile when it slammed into the vehicle, WALA reported.
City of Mobile Public Affairs Manager Blake Brown said the vehicle seemingly did not wait for the train to pass, leading to the deadly impact, according to WALA and CBS affiliate WKRG. He also said the safety equipment was working normally.
“It’s our understanding that the vehicle was completely cut in half by the train,” he said, according to WALA.
“Pay attention,” Brown added, according to WKRG. “Don’t try to outrun a train. Don’t try to go under the arms. They’re there for a reason.”
Amtrak did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Thursday’s crash is the second deadly crash at the intersection in less than a year, WALA noted.
In February, Brittany Williams, 31, and her 8-year-old daughter died when their car went around the crossing arms, and an Amtrak train struck the vehicle.
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