Three members of a family, including a five-year-old girl, were killed when a train struck them on a railroad bridge spanning the Sandusky River in northern Ohio, authorities reported on Monday.
Search crews using sonar recovered the girl’s body near the bridge on Monday after an overnight search, according to Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez.
The victims, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, had been on a fishing trip along the Sandusky River and were on the bridge Sunday night when a train entered the span, Sanchez said. A one-year-old girl survived and is being treated at a hospital. It remains unclear whether all four were struck by the train or if some may have jumped or were thrown into the river in an attempt to avoid it, he added.
The incident remains under investigation.
The railroad bridge, which is marked with no trespassing signs, is not intended for pedestrian use. Sanchez noted that he does not believe the family was fishing from the bridge when the train approached.
The two adult victims were a mother and her adult daughter, the mayor confirmed.
Rail operator Norfolk Southern issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident and said it is cooperating with investigators.
