Update: Victims identified in train/SUV collision Monday night

Two people were killed overnight when an SUV was hit by a train at the Bartholomew and Johnson County line.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office has identified the victims as 30 year old Joshua L. Kelso, of Cloverdale, and 20-year-old Justice M. Llewellyn of Franklin. They were both killed by blunt force trauma from the impact.

Firefighters from the German Township Volunteer Fire Department and Edinburgh Fire Department were called to the scene at about 11:50 p.m. last night near County Road 900N and 250W after several witnesses reported the crash. The first firefighter was on the scene within a minute and found a heavily damaged SUV about 150 feet south of the road and 20 feet east of the railroad.

The driver’s side of the vehicle suffered the most damage and the bodies of the two victims were still inside the SUV, says German Township Fire Chief Matt Lynch. A third person was also found, lying on the ground next to the vehicle. That victim was flown to an Indianapolis trauma center by IU Lifeline helicopter.

Lynch says the train consisted of only two southbound locomotives but the conductor said the train was moving at just under 50 mph.

The Indiana State Police is investigating the accident.

Lynch said firefighters want to stress drivers should always be alert for trains when crossing railroad tracks. Most rural railroad crossings do not have lights or a stop arm so you should make sure to stop and look both directions  each time you approach tracks. He said it is just not worth trying to beat a train across the tracks.