2 adults, 6 children injured when train hits 2 vehicles in SW Houston

HOUSTON – Several people were injured Friday afternoon after a train slammed into two vehicles in southwest Houston.

A train struck two vehicles at a railroad crossing on Fondren at South Main around 2 p.m. Friday.

The crossing arms were down and several cars traveling south on Fondren were stopped at the railroad crossing. Officers say several people got out and held the crossing arms up so cars could get through.

It appears the drivers weren't aware of a second train coming down the tracks. Officers say the conductor of that train sounded the horn several times but two cars were still hit.

A mother, father and six children were hit in a red Chevrolet Impala and man in a black Nissan Altima was also impacted. Only one of the children, a 1-year-old, was restrained by a seatbelt. All but one of the victims have been hospitalized and all injuries appeared to be non-life threatening.

Burlington Northern, the train company involved in the crash, says the mother was one of the people who lifted up one of the crossing rails to drive across it.

One man who lives nearby says he's seen people lift the crossing arms before.

"A lot of times, the train will be way down the track, and they just lift the rails," he said. "People are in a hurry so that's what happens when they want to get where they want to go. But it's not safe."