By Chris Johnson/reporter@gonzalescannon.com
HARWOOD – Three members of a Harwood family were killed on the night of Saturday, July 4, when their maroon 2004 Dodge 1500 pickup truck was struck by the westbound Amtrak Sunset Limited passenger train at the FM 794 railroad crossing in Harwood.
According to a preliminary report prepared by Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Ryan Pace, the pickup truck was struck on the passenger side at the crossing as it travelled north at 10:16 p.m. According to DPS Public Information Officer Deon Cockrel, the report states the train struck the truck after the truck travelled around deployed railroad crossing arms while the red signal lights were flashing.
The train then pushed the truck and its occupants more than three-tenths of a mile down the track before coming to a complete stop.