Authorities said 37-year old Tonya Owens was driving a Chevrolet SUV when she entered a construction area and became stuck on some railroad tracks, causing her vehicle to be struck by the train.
A section of Moore Street was closed for street repairs at the time of the collision and some of the asphalt had been removed on both sides of the tracks.
Owens along with 18-year-old Brandon Merrick, 13-year-old Keiyanna Owens and 9-year-old Kiera Owens were able to exit the SUV before the train hit.
Owens attempted to free 15-year-old Jelisa Merrick from the vehicle, but she was knocked to the ground during the impact.
The train dragged the vehicle about 360 feet down the tracks. Merrick suffered only minor injures, but Owens broke some of her ribs. Both were transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for treatment. Their conditions are not known at this time.
Nobody on the train was hurt.
The train suffered over $100,000 in damages, and the Chevy was totaled and was towed from the scene. The train was traveling between 25 to 30 mph at the time of impact.
Owens has been cited for driving into a construction work area.
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