Funeral Set for Train Accident Victims; 3-Year-Old Survivor Stable

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Story Published: Jun 30, 2008 at 8:52 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 11:28 PM MDT

By Nate Eaton

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The 3-year-old survivor of a car-train accident is recovering at Primary Children's Medical Center with her father by her side.

As we've reported, 30-year old Tamara Stelzer and her 11-year-old son Dylan died after their car was hit by a train Friday night.

Sheriff Roy Klingler, Madison Co.: "Our deepest sympathies and regrets go out to everybody involved."

30-year-old Tamara Stelzer was expected to have her baby girl any day now. Instead, doctors performed an emergency C-section Friday night. Hours later, Tamara passed away.

Her 11 year old son, Dylan, died earlier in the evening at the scene of train crash near the Lorenzo Bridge in Madison County.

Tamara's daughter and Dylan's sister, 3-year-old Samantha, was airlifted to EIRMC...then to Primary Children's Medical Center where she is recovering.

Klingler: "The investigation is continuing. We have been working with the railroad."

The Madison County Sheriff's Office says this horrible accident is a reminder to everyone to slow down and stop at railroad crossings.

In 2007, there were 20 collisions involving vehicles and trains statewide. One of them involved a car being driven by BYU-Idaho students in Rexburg. Fortunately no one was hurt in the wreck but three people were killed in other accidents and four were injured.

Klingler: "At railroad crossings it's very important to make sure you stop, look, and listen."

Every year, Operation Lifesaver works with the media and police to make sure cars stop at railroad crossings. It is illegal to not stop or cross while lights are flashing...and too often, not stopping results in tragedy.

The sheriff's office should complete its investigation into the crash by the end of the week,.

The funerals for Tamara and Dylan will be this Thursday in Burton.

Friday's accident was the first fatal train-car crash Eastern Idaho has seen in quite a while and it's a tragic reminder of how bad they can be.

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