TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. — Louisiana authorities say two drivers have died in crashes at railroad crossings 130 miles apart. Louisiana State Police say 55-year-old James Kelly of Delhi was thrown from his pickup truck when a freight train hit it about 4 p.m. Wednesday in Delhi.
About an hour later, an Amtrak passenger train hit a dump truck south of Amite. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office tells news agencies that 60-year-old Cedric West, of Minden, died in that crash.
Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says no passengers were hurt but the crash disabled the train's engine.
According to Chief Jimmy Travis with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, West was going back to work in Amite when he drove over train track and into the path of the Amtrack train heading from New Orleans to Chicago.
The sheriff's office said the train hit the driver's side of the truck causing great damage and fatally injuring West.
Amtrak said there were no injuries reported from the passengers on the train.
The train's engine was disabled but another engine is en route to get the train to its destination.
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