Woman dies, 9 kids injured as van crashes into train in Ohio

Authorities say a van crashed through a gate into the side of a freight train at a southwest Ohio rail crossing, killing a woman and injuring nine children and the adult driver.

Authorities said the accident happened shortly before 7 p.m.in Middletown, approximately 40 miles north of Cincinnati.

None of the children was seriously injured, Arnold said; however, the adult passenger was in critical condition. Troopers haven’t said why the driver didn’t stop.

NEW INFORMATION – The female passenger of the gray van that hit a train in Middletown Tuesday evening was pronounced dead after being transported to Atrium Medical Center, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “The gate was completely down, and the van went through the gate”. They were able to remove her from the vehicle and transport her to Atrium Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

The van was picking up its last load of children for the Church of Mayfield’s summer vacation Bible school.

“I just spoke to one of the troopers that saw them all off loaded”. “He said majority appeared to be under 10 years of age and all of them were I guess loud, so that’s a good thing”, Arnold said.

Arnold said investigators aren’t sure why the driver ignored the flashing warning signals.

“It wasn’t like she was trying to drive around the gate”.

Troopers and CSX investigators are both examining the crash.