1 woman dead, 9 children injured after van crashes into train

Van collides with train in Middletown.

A church van carrying children to a Vacation Bible School crashed into a train crossing guard Tuesday night, July 28, injuring nine children, the driver and killing the passenger.

Both women in their 60s were taken to Atrium Hospital.

Authorities said the crash happened in front of the Goodwill on 14th Avenue, west of University Boulevard, shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

“The lights were flashing and the gates were down”, Ohio State Patrol Lt. Clint Arnold said. It is not clear why the van’s driver didn’t stop.

Troopers tell us the intersection is rarely used by trains. The procedure calls for trains to slow down miles before the crossing, wait for the lights to flash and the barrier to come down, and travel through the intersection at two miles per hour.

Adams said several of the children told emergency workers that they were on their way to church, and that some church-related materials were found in the van. The driver of the van, also a female, suffered serious injuries. Police say nine children, ranging from 7 to 10 years old, and the driver suffered injuries that aren’t life-threatening. Four were taken to Atrium while the other four went to the Liberty campus of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The passenger, Jan Martin, 62, died from her injuries.

“There was one kids that had a cut across the top of the head little girl had a bloody nose and face”, said Tomlinson.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing.

“Just have respect for the train you can’t beat a train there’s no competition there. It ain’t worth losing your life over”, said Tomlinson.