Freight train collides with van at Mississippi crossing with history of prior deaths leaving 5 dead as crossing had no lights or crossing arms. Fatalities identified as Ryan Peterson, Kristina Carver, Emley and Sarabeth Chamblee, and Demarcus Perkins.
Five people were killed, including a mother and her two daughters when a train collided into their van at a crossing in rural Mississippi, Friday afternoon.
Five occupants in the vehicle were killed when a Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train collided with the vehicle at the Pump Branch Road crossing, near Wiggins about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Biloxi.
Miraculously a sixth person who was in the vehicle, a 23-year-old woman survived the impact and was flown to hospital. Her immediate condition was not known.
Prior complaints about crossing
Among the deceased was the driver of the van, Ryan C. Peterson, 26, and the front seat passenger, Kristina Carver, 45. Two of Carver’s daughters also died, 22-year-old Emley Chamblee and 20-year-old Sarabeth Chamblee, as did 23-year-old Demarcus Perkins according to Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry.
Stone County Sheriff Todd Stewart said the crash happened around 1 p.m. on Pump Branch Road. First responders had to cut through the woods to get to the wreckage, WHSV reported.
The tragedy comes amid locals complaints about the crossing, with nearby resident Pam Olson sounding the alarm on the Pump Branch Road railroad crossing for some time.
‘I told my husband a train hit another vehicle. My husband ran up there and said, ‘Pam, it’s bad,” Olson told WHSV.
Crossing reportedly had no lights or crossing arms despite previous deadly incidents
A recent report from the Stone County Enterprise outlines another wreck in the same spot, which resulted in the driver of a pickup truck being airlifted. Stewart also pointed out a fatal train accident in Stone County happened at the location in 2023, claiming the life of a Wiggins woman.
‘This’d be the second incident in the last four to five weeks involving fatalities and the third incident in the last year, all involving fatalities,’ explained Stewart. ‘To date, we’ve lost seven folks within the last year.’
The crossing does not have crossing arms or lights. Stone County District 1 Supervisor Jimmy Springs said he previously reached out to Mississippi Department of Transportation railroad engineers and was told crossing arms are on the way for two crossings, including the one at Pump Branch Road. However, it could take a year for them to be installed.
The Stone County Sheriff’s Office which was investigating the crash, had yet to say what led to collision.
‘Our most sincere condolences go out to the families of the victims of this tragedy,’ the railroad company said.
