Tracks cleared after Kissimmee train crash causes delays during morning commute

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A train crash in Kissimmee is causing delays for morning commuters, according to police.

Kissimmee police said a freight train slammed into a vehicle that was on the tracks at Penfield Street and Clyde Avenue Monday morning. The car was dragged for several blocks coming to a stop near Beaumont Avenue.

According to police, two employees that were on the train at the time of the crash were not injured.

The driver of the car was taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center and taken into surgery. Police said the driver is in critical condition.

Police have not said why the vehicle was stopped on the tracks.

“It’s too early in the investigation to be able to give an explanation to why the driver, the vehicle, was sitting on the tracks,” said Kissimmee Police Sgt. Omar Berrio said.

The train tracks were cleared around 9 a.m. and the freight train involved was cleared for service, police said.

SunRail is also back in service after the delay and anticipates recovering sits Monday schedule at all stops, FDOT officials said.

During the delay, FDOT officials said SunRail trains traveling from the north couldn’t get farther south than the Kissimmee station. Buses were brought in to bridge the gap in service.

The crash was slowing traffic at the intersection of Penfield Street and Clyde Avenue. Police said traffic on Beaumont Avenue and the railroad track crossing were also being affected by the crash.

The crash scene blocked off the entrance to Big Toho Marina Monday morning.

Jason Fettinger drove from Tennessee to go fishing at the marina and was caught by surprise when he saw the yellow tape on Beaumont Avenue.

“We thought the train just broke down,” Fettinger said.

FDOT officials said commuters can get updated SunRail information via the SunRail app and Twitter.

No other details were immediately available.