Tragic Amtrak Strike Claims Three Lives in Bucks County

BRISTOL BOROUGH, Pa. (AP) — Three family members were killed Thursday evening after being struck by an Amtrak train in Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania, authorities reported.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. near the intersection of Beaver and Prospect streets, where the train, an Acela high-speed service traveling from Boston to Richmond, Virginia, collided with the individuals on the tracks. Bristol Borough Police Chief Joseph Moors confirmed that police were dispatched to respond to reports of people on the tracks just before the tragedy unfolded.

Chief Moors described the event as a “horrific tragedy,” emphasizing the profound loss for the deceased’s family but withheld their identities pending notification of relatives. The train had 236 passengers and crew on board at the time of the incident, none of whom were injured.

Shauna Hailey, a passenger on the train, recounted the moment of the collision. “All of a sudden, the train came to a staggering stop, and you knew something was wrong,” Hailey said. “I think everyone on the train is just in shock as to this actually happened. You hear about these things happening, but you don’t really expect to be on the train when it happens.”

Hailey also expressed concern for the family involved and the train crew, saying, “I feel horrible for the families involved, for the Amtrak employees. I do hope that the engineer, who is in charge of the train, gets all the help they may need.”

In the aftermath of the crash, Amtrak and SEPTA services were temporarily suspended. Service on the Trenton Line was halted for hours as authorities began their investigation. By late Thursday night, train operations began to resume, albeit at restricted speeds due to residual effects from the incident.

Bristol Borough authorities continued to investigate the circumstances leading to the family being on the tracks. Additionally, a community member, Ashley Spencer, expressed her shock at the tragedy, stating, “I heard the loudest screech I’ve ever heard before in my life, like it was trying to brake and it couldn’t.”

This incident marked the second pedestrian fatality involving an Amtrak train in Bucks County within a week. Investigations are ongoing as authorities strive to provide clarity on the incident, with an update expected from police on Friday morning.