Tragedy struck Rockwood, Somerset County, when two women lost their lives in a harrowing collision with a CSX train. The incident, which took place shortly before 10:30 a.m. yesterday, involved an SUV that was hit at a railroad crossing on Bridge Street. The Pennsylvania State Police reported that traffic control devices were functioning properly at the time of the crash, a detail that adds to the somber narrative of the unexpected tragedy.
The vehicle was reportedly struck on the front driver's side by the oncoming train, leading to fatalities that the community could not have braced to witness. The two victims, identified by state police as Susan Spangler, 67, and Deloris Latshaw, 85, both hailed from Somerset. WTAE reported that authorities did not specify which of the women was behind the wheel at the devastating moment of impact.
Moving past the facts of the collision, residents have voiced their distress, describing the railroad crossings as long-standing menaces. Ken Marker, a resident living in proximity to the site of the crash, confessed to CBS News, "I feel sick almost. I'm kind of anxious. I don't think it should have happened. It's just a shame." The accident has reignited discussions about the safety measures at the town's train crossings, suggesting that previous concerns have yet to be effectively addressed.
Following the collision, the SUV was pushed approximately a quarter mile down the track, coming to a halt at the next crossing. While the engineer and conductor aboard the train emerged unscathed, the women in the SUV were not as fortunate—one was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other at Conemaugh Hospital after being transported there.
As the investigation by Pennsylvania State Police continues, the exact cause of the crash remains unknown.
