Train Crash Kills 11-Year-Old; Sister And Pregnant Mother Critical

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Story Published: Jun 27, 2008 at 9:52 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 10:22 PM MST

By Eyewitness News

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A horrible train and car crash Friday night near the Lorenzo Bridge leaves a family torn apart.

Eleven-year old Dylan Freeman died at the scene. His three year old sister was later flown to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. The mother, 30-year old Tamara Stelzer was air-lifted to EIRMC where doctors delivered her unborn baby via C-section. The baby is reportedly doing fine, Stelzer is critical.

The crash happened around 5:30pm Friday night and left emergency crews scrambling. The train dragged the car several hundred feet down the track, trapping them inside and eventually leaving the car floating in a retaining pond along the Snake River.

"Pretty serious situation. The car went down off the embankment quite a ways there, the victims had to be extricated," says Madison County Sheriff Roy Klingler.

"She says she saw the train coming she saw the car and she said car please stop but the car didn't stop and so she saw the train hit the car and then all she could she was dust," says witness Eilona Bowen.

Idaho State Police shut down Highway 20 in both directions so Air Idaho could land, leaving traffic backed up for miles.

Police are still investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash.

"As far as the investigation wise obviously our very first ting we want to do is take care of the occupants and people involved, and now our focus will be on trying to take care of the scene and determine what happened," says Sheriff Klingler.

Eyewitness News talked to one witness who has lived down the street from the track crossing for 30 years. She says she can only remember one other accident at this train crossing during that time. However, she says with the way people drive, it's surprising more accidents have not happened at this very spot.

"People do not stop for those stop signs," says Bowen.

At this time the accident is still under investigation. There is no word on whether or not Stelzer did try to stop for the train.

Highway 20 is re-opened and traffic is flowing normally.

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