12-Year-Old Killed After Freight Train Crashes Into A Car In California

KEY POINTS

The 19-year-old driver was airlifted to a hospital
3 others were hurt during the crash and 2 other vehicles were damaged
The incident was third collision officials responded to this year

A 12-year-old boy was killed and a 19-year-old woman is in critical condition after a freight train collided with their car in California’s Bay Area.

On Wednesday, around 1 p.m. the four-wheeler with the two young people inside had been traveling towards west on East Cypress in the city of Oakley when the crash occurred.

The fatal accident happened when the 19-year-old driver attempted to cross the train tracks, said city officials on Twitter.

Train collision update:
Shortly before 1 p.m. a vehicle which had been travelling westbound on East Cypress collided with a train. One passenger has been pronounced dead at the scene & the driver was transported for treatment.

OPD asks you to AVOID the area.
— City of Oakley (@CityofOakley) August 25, 2021

The boy, identified by his mother as Joshua Schaefer was a passenger in the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene, reported the New York Post. The teen girl was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

Two other vehicles were also involved in the crash. However, it is unclear if they were struck by the train or were damaged by flying debris from the initial crash, reported the outlet.

#BREAKING Freight train collides with car in Oakley. 12 yr old boy dead. 19 yr old girl airlifted to hospital. Crash/debris damaged 2 other cars. 2nd train ax at this crossing in the last week. Near Iron House elementary & Delta Vista Middle https://t.co/yu6sl0ohhp @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/4PfDnFR6cm
— Janelle Wang (@janellewang) August 25, 2021

Three others were hurt in the accident. According to Oakley police, one of the vehicles had overturned. One victim had been reported to have suffered from head trauma and was coming in and out of consciousness reported the East Bay Times.

Police have not yet revealed how the crash unfolded. Officials urged the public on Twitter to avoid the roadway in the city, which is 55 miles outside of San Francisco.

Please avoid the area of the railroad tracks and East Cypress Road. There has been a fatal collision between an individual and a train. Take alternate routes, as traffic is heavy in the area. More information to follow.
— City of Oakley (@CityofOakley) August 25, 2021

According to Chief Ross Macumber with the East Contra Costa Fire District, Wednesday’s incident marked the third time his crews had to respond to collisions involving a train and a car this year.

"If the crossing arms are down, don’t ever try and beat a train," he told KNTV. "They are down for a reason. The trains come through at a high rate of speed and they don’t stop for a long time. Never try and beat a train."

Police also added that the crossing signals in and around the tracks were working properly at the time of the crash.

"I don’t know what the solution is, more signs?" said an Oakley resident, Niecy McGee to the outlet. "We have kids that walk those tracks every day to and from school."

Earlier this month, three people died and dozens more got injured after two trains collided with one another near the Czech-German border after one of the trains failed to stop at a red light.