3 teens killed in Texas train collision

HOUSTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Three Texas teens -- none of whom had driver’s licenses -- were killed when a train smashed into their car as they tried to cross the tracks.

The teenagers allegedly ignored whistles, blinking lights, bells and crossing gates Wednesday night as they tried to beat the Amtrak passenger train across the intersection of C.E. King and Beaumont Highway in northeast Harris County, Texas, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday.

Police told the newspaper 18-year-old Chris Alain Rodriguez; his 13-year-old brother, Peter; and Chris’s 16-year-old girlfriend, Jennifer Medina, all were declared dead at the scene.

"If they had waited about 8 seconds, the train probably would have passed them," said Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Thomas. "When people look down the tracks, they think they have plenty of time. But they don't."

The Federal Railroad Administration is conducting an investigation of accident, which happened about a mile away from the teens' home, the newspaper said.

The preliminary report that the train was going 55 m.p.h. will be checked against equipment on the train that officially documents the speed.

The crash is the third fatal accident involving trains in the Houston area in two months, the Chronicle said.