SUSSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A woman is dead after police say she was in a car that was hit by an Amtrak train in Sussex County on Thursday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police.
At approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, the 80 Carolinian traveling from Charlotte to New York was temporarily stopped in Sussex County after it struck a 2023 Nissan Rogue that was on the track, according to Amtrak officials.
According to a Virginia State Police trooper at the scene, 67-year-old Arnetta Johnson Lucas was found inside of the car, she was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness reported seeing Lucas drive around the crossing arms, which was down as the train approached while blowing its horn.
Juanita Joyce, who lives nearby and drives over the railroad crossing every day on her way to work, said she wants people to be more cautious when driving over train tracks.
“Please. Please. If you’re near a train track, do not think you can cross those lines when they come down. It only takes a split second,” said Joyce. “An Amtrak train cannot stop quick enough to see you on that track.”
At the time of the incident, 290 passengers were on the train but none have been reported injured, according to Amtrak.
Amtrak did not say when the crash took place or how long the train was stopped for, but said that the train continued heading north at around 3:45 p.m. Thursday.
Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to investigate this incident.
This is an ongoing story, stay with 8News for updates.
