HOLLYWOOD, FL – A white Jeep Wrangler was involved in a Brightline train crash Tuesday afternoon at a Hollywood railroad crossing.
The accident happened in the area of North Dixie Highway and Garfield Street.
Witnesses told Local 10 News that the driver of the jeep was racing south and trying to cut in front of the train because his crossed arms were in a lowered position.
They said that then the train hit the vehicle, which caused it to overturn and throw the driver.
Drivers stopped nearby to remove the jeep from the driver before he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
“They said he was chasing the train and he must have seen his hands down and tried to get around it,” said Jakub Naber, one of the witnesses who rushed to help the driver.
A white Wrangler jeep was involved in a Brightline train crash on Tuesday afternoon at a Hollywood level crossing. The accident happened in the area of North Dixie Highway and Garfield Street.
Tuesday’s incident comes a day after a man died in a Brightline train crash in Pompano Beach.
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In this case, a Brightline spokeswoman said the driver was driving around the gates, which signaled that a train was coming before their vehicle was hit.
The victim in this accident was identified as 27-year-old Jake Bresnehan.
A friend of the victim told Local 10 News that Bresnehan has two children, two stepchildren and another child.
He was on his way to work when the crash happened, according to a friend.
Brightline officials told Local 10 News on Monday that at least 64 people have died in collisions with their trains since 2018.
Sky 10 shows a damaged white jeep that was hit by a Brightline train in Hollywood. (WPLG)
In light of the alarming figure, a Brightline spokesman told Local 10 News that the company is seeking a federal grant to pay for approximately half of a $ 45 million project to increase safety measures that it believes will help prevent accidents and deaths.
The company also issued a statement stating:
“We all recognize that the intercity passenger rail will carry millions of people each year and will be a vital part of Florida’s transportation network. FDOT, Brightline and our partner communities are committed to improving safety on the railway corridor, and we will continue to identify funding opportunities such as the RAISE grant.
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Brightline also warns drivers to follow these simple rules to prevent train accidents:
· Never drive around the gates
· Never try to beat the train
· Note that these are active railways with trains approaching in both directions.
Report at 4 p.m.
A Brightline train crashed into a white SUV in Hollywood.
Report at 3 p.m.
A white Wrangler jeep was involved in a Brightline train crash on Tuesday afternoon at a Hollywood level crossing.
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