Five people were killed after a train hit their vehicle when the driver allegedly went around the crossing gate in Gary, Indiana.
The incident took place just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, near Highway 20 and Utah Street in Gary, Indiana, when a witness told Gary Police that the crossing gate for the oncoming South Shore train was down when the driver of the vehicle went around it to beat the train. The Gary Police Department confirmed all five people inside the vehicle died. The identities of the victims were not released as of Thursday.
South Shore service was temporarily suspended but was up and running again as of Thursday morning. The South Shore Line put out a statement regarding the collision:
“On June 25, 2025, shortly after 10 PM, South Shore Line Train #133 was traveling eastbound in Gary, Indiana, approaching the intersection at US 12/20 and 7th Avenue when a southbound vehicle bypassed lowered crossing gates and entered the path of the oncoming train.
Emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the scene. According to the Gary Police Department, the five occupants of the vehicle sustained fatal injuries. No passengers or crew members aboard the train were injured.
Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic incident. We remind everyone to never attempt to cross railroad tracks when signals are activated, and to always expect a train on any track from any direction at any time. South Shore Line services were temporarily suspended following the incident, but normal operations have since resumed. We will continue to cooperate fully with local authorities during their ongoing investigation.”
South Shore Line President Mike Noland confirmed that the passengers and crews on the train were not hurt, and added: “putting aside the fact we always want people to be extremely careful around trains and train tracks and to expect a train on a track at any time – there is a tragedy when five human beings are lost and our hearts go out to the family of the loved ones who experienced loss in this accident.”
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