Deadly Amtrak crash: Train traveling from San Antonio hits vehicle south of Taylor

HUTTO, Texas - A person has died after an Amtrak train traveling from San Antonio hit a vehicle south of Taylor.

What we know:

The Texas Department of Public Safety says that its troopers responded to a crash at around 10 a.m. (CT) involving a train and a vehicle in Williamson County.

Amtrak says its Amtrak Train 22 was traveling from San Antonio to Chicago when it came into contact with a vehicle south of Taylor.

DPS says that its preliminary investigation finds that a Toyota 4Runner was stopped or attempting to cross the railroad tracks when it was hit by the train. The crossing where the crash occurred is not protected and leads to private property.

The Amtrak train has two engines and six passenger cars. 

Officials say there were 71 passengers and nine crew on the train and there are no initial reports of any injuries to those onboard.

The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

What we don't know:

The crash remains under investigation.

Officials say no further information is available at this time.

Residents react

Local perspective:

"I just saw all the cops coming sheriff’s state troopers it was like man what’s going on? We thought maybe something happened at the gym maybe a shooting checked Facebook and saw it was a car crash," said Terron Hall.

Hall was on his way to work at Big Brand Tire Service when he says he narrowly avoided being involved in the crash.

" I was lucky because the accident happened like ten minutes before I got to work so I crossed the station right there on Walmart and Redbud so I was happy I didn’t get ten minutes late because it couldn’t been someone else it could’ve been me," said Hall. 

Round Rock resident Rebekah Kuykendall says she’s seen the area change over the years—and with growth comes safety concerns.

"I grew up in the area, so I’ve seen a lot of the trains coming through the area and honestly I was always like it’s about time somebody someday someone is going to get hit," said Kuykendall. 

Amtrak says according to the Federal Railroad Administration , railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in the U.S. 

"I think a lot of people will try and rush the little crossing guards they’ll try and rush them at the last minute make it through not saying that’s the situation that happened, but people will try and make it at the last minute," said Kuykendall.