OAKLAND PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - A portion of Oakland Park Boulevard was temporarily closed near Interstate 95 after an Amtrak train hit a car, killing the driver, according to Oakland Park Fire Rescue.
According to fire rescue officials, the northbound Amtrak train was en-route to New York City when it crashed with the car at the railroad crossing at Oakland Park Blvd., west of I-95, at around 1:10 p.m.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies from the Oakland Park district, along with Oakland Park Fire Rescue, then responded to the scene.
The male driver, the lone occupant of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene by Oakland Park Fire Rescue.
According to BSO, the vehicle was traveling east on West Oakland Park Boulevard when it was hit on the passenger-side rear fender, and that collision forced the vehicle to hit a metal pole.
“I heard an explosion about the train, and I heard the screaming,” said Haida Irizarry, who heard the crash, “so I came out running, and that’s when I saw the car all mashed and everything, and I got nervous, I got panicked. I’m still panicked.”
“I heard like an explosion,” said Jeffrey Beaubrun, who also heard the collision.
The crash resulted in the closure of West Oakland Park Boulevard in both directions, between Powerline Road and Northwest 21st Avenue. However, just before 6 p.m., officials reopened lanes in both directions.
According to Tri-Rail, commuters should expect some residual delays during early rush hour. Currently, they are turning trains between the Cypress Creek and Fort Lauderdale Stations and running a bus bridge between the two stations.
Officials said there were 126 passengers on board the train at the time of the crash, none of whom were injured.
The train has since stopped north of the scene for the investigation.
BSO’s traffic homicide unit is investigating the fatal crash.
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