Five people have died after a train and van collided in rural Mississippi, authorities confirmed Friday.
Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry said all five fatalities were occupants of the van. The sole surviving van passenger, a 23-year-old woman, was airlifted to hospital, he added. No one aboard the train was reported injured.
The crash occurred at a crossing near Wiggins, approximately 45 miles (72 kilometres) north-west of Biloxi. Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the railway operator, said one of its freight trains was involved.
A map of Wiggins:
The Stone County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the crash, the company said.
“Our most sincere condolences go out to the families of the victims of this tragedy,” the railroad company said.
The driver of the van, Ryan C. Peterson, 26, and the front seat passenger, Kristina Carver, 45, were among those killed, Flurry said. Two of Carver’s daughters also died, 22-year-old Emley Chamblee and 20-year-old Sarabeth Chamblee, as did 23-year-old Demarcus Perkins.
