FREMONT, Ohio (AP) — Authorities reported that two women and a 5-year-old girl lost their lives after a train collided with them on a railroad bridge spanning a river in northern Ohio.
Mayor Danny Sanchez of Fremont stated that rescue teams utilizing sonar technology searched the Sandusky River tirelessly overnight, finally discovering the young girl’s body close to the bridge on Monday.
The family, originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, had embarked on a fishing excursion along the Sandusky River. They were present on the bridge Sunday night when the train approached, according to Sanchez. A 1-year-old girl was successfully rescued and is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
It’s not clear whether the train hit all four or whether some may have jumped or were thrown into the river to avoid the locomotive, Sanchez said.
The details of what happened were still under investigation, Sanchez said.
The railroad bridge is not meant for pedestrians and was marked with no trespassing signs, the mayor said. He said he did not think the family was fishing off the bridge at the time the train approached.
The two women who died were a mother and her adult daughter, the mayor said.
Rail operator Norfolk Southern said in a statement that the company was deeply saddened by the tragedy and is working with authorities on the investigation.
