Train Strikes SUV After Mom Drives Around Safety Gates, Killing Herself And Children [Video]

A mom and her four children were on their way to a Halloween parade Thursday in southern Illinois when their SUV went around the safety gates, putting them in the direct path of a freight train. According to Fox News, the mom, Crystal Anna, 35, died Friday at St. Louis University Hospital from the injuries she sustained in the accident.

Three of Crystal Anna’s children also died. Her oldest daughter, Alyssa Sewell, 18, along with 10-year-old Anna Wisnasky and 13-year-old Drake Wisnasky, were pronounced dead at the scene. The youngest, Dylan Wisnasky, 9, is being treated at a St. Louis hospital. There is no news of his current condition, per Fox News.

State Police Master Sgt. Shad Payne told ABC News that upon investigation, the crossing gates were down and the lights were flashing at the time Anna drove her SUV around them. They were only one block away from their destination at the parade on main street when the accident occurred.

There were questions as to whether Anna was stopped in traffic and stuck on the tracks due to the congestion in the area. However, there was a train camera that recorded the entire incident, and Vandalia Police Chief Jeff Ray and other officials reviewed the footage. Ray admits that although the quality of the video was poor, they were able to determine that the SUV was not stuck in traffic.

The family had traveled from Greenville, Illinois, to attend the parade. Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen tells ABC News that the intersection can be confusing because there are actually two sets of tracks that converge. Bowen believes it is possible that the accident occurred because Anna was not familiar with the crossing.

However, Bowen continues to say that although it was raining, and the train engineer did everything possible to get the drivers attention by sounding all the bells and whistles, he believes that the way the tracks are set up, Anna still should have been able to see the train.

Fox News reports Bowen’s comments regarding the accident.

“The whole thing is just a terrible, terrible tragedy that’s just unbelievable what this family is going to have to endure.”

[Photo Credit: Fox2Now.com]