Janet Teasley Watson of Durham and Barbara Ann Dickerson of Creedmoor were in a 1991 Ford Thunderbird, which officials say was on the train tracks, when they were hit by an Amtrak train.
The collision happened at 5:04 p.m. at the intersection of Ellis Road crossing near Pettigrew Street. The passenger train was coming from New York City and had a stop in Durham.
Police said that the car, driven by Teasley, was traveling north on Ellis Road when it came up behind several vehicles stopped at the railroad crossing gates, which were down. According to a witness, Teasley went around the stopped vehicles and into the oncoming travel lanes.
The Thunderbird then drove around the railroad crossing gates and onto the railroad tracks, where a westbound Amtrak train struck it, according the police.
The impact caused the Thunderbird to become airborne and smash into a railroad control building before coming to rest parallel to Pettigrew Street.
Dickerson, a passenger in the car, died in the accident. Watson is listed in serious condition at Duke Medical Center after undergoing emergency surgery. None of the 122 passengers on board were hurt.
No charges have been filed, but the accident is still under investigation.
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