A tight-knit small town is reeling from shock after an Amtrak train tragically struck and killed three family members near Philadelphia.
The incident occurred as police were responding to reports of people on the tracks. However, a high-speed train hit the victims just as an officer approached to help them.
This devastating event marks the second pedestrian fatality involving an Amtrak train in Bucks County this week alone.
The fatal collision took place near Prospect and Beaver streets in Bristol, Pennsylvania, not far from the Bristol train station.
Amtrak train 85, traveling from Boston to Richmond, Virginia, with 236 passengers and crew members on board, struck three local adult males who were reportedly family members.
Fortunately, none of the train’s passengers or crew were injured in the incident.
Bristol Borough Police Chief Joe Moors confirmed the deaths at the scene. “This is a horrific tragedy,” Moors stated while addressing the media about the incident that has shaken the local community.
According to witnesses, a young male was first spotted on the tracks, followed by an older male who appeared to be attempting to help him.
A third male then joined them before the train struck all three. The specific circumstances surrounding why they were on the tracks remain unclear as investigators continue to piece together the tragic sequence of events.
“When our officers arrived, the sergeant was starting to head up to the subjects up on the railroad tracks when an Accela high-speed train traveling southbound towards Philadelphia struck all three subjects that were up on the track,” said Chief Moors.
Safety concerns have been raised about the area where the men accessed the tracks, as it was reportedly not fenced off, unlike the opposite side.
This lack of proper safety barriers at rail crossings has been a persistent issue in many communities across America, where modern protection measures could prevent such tragedies.
The incident led to significant disruptions in rail service throughout the Northeast Corridor.
Amtrak temporarily halted all rail traffic departing from New York and Philadelphia, while SEPTA suspended service near Bristol Station.
Later on, Amtrak lines between Philadelphia and New York reopened with restricted speeds, and SEPTA’s Trenton Line resumed service.
“I heard the loudest screech I’ve ever heard before in my life,” said Ashley Spencer, a Bristol resident who witnessed the aftermath of the tragic collision.
Amtrak police are leading the investigation into the incident, collaborating with the Bristol Township Police Department.
The identities of the three victims have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.
This tragedy comes just days after another pedestrian fatality involving an Amtrak train near Cornwells Heights Station in Bucks County.
These back-to-back incidents raise serious questions about rail safety in the region and whether enough is being done to protect both passengers and pedestrians around these high-speed corridors.
