Train collision in Jackson on Thursday leaves two dead

VICKSBURG, Miss. (Vicksburg Daily News) – Two men are dead following a collision with a train between Byram and Jackson, Ms. on Thursday.

James Creel of Lake, Mississippi, and Scott Harstock of Florida died in a train collision on Thursday around 5:30 p.m. The two were in an 18-wheeler wrecker tow truck which was crossing a poorly marked area when the train collided with them. The section of track is not marked with emergency lights or crossing arms, which could have attributed to the incident.

“This particular railroad section does not have crossing arms or flashing lights,” Bryam Police Chief David Errington told WLBT. “He was pulling another tractor-trailer across the railroad tracks to enter the Jackson Motor Speedway area and did not see the train approaching, and the train struck the passenger side of the wrecker, pulling the broken down tractor-trailer.”

Amtrak said the vehicle came into contact with the Amtrak City of New Orleans train. The train was carrying 142 passengers and crew members, which were not injured in the collision. The incident is still being investigated.

A video was posted to social media following the incident by one of the passengers. That can be viewed below: