Two children were killed when they were struck by an Amtrak train while playing on the tracks in Chester, Pennsylvania, officials and witnesses say. A few other children escaped unhurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accident happened at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday when Amtrak train 161 – which was heading from New York to Washington, D.C. – struck two people in Chester. Both children were pronounced dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracey, a local resident, said she saw about 5 to 7 children on the tracks shortly before the accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I said, ‘Ya’ll come down before you have an accident,’ and they just laughed and went about their business,” Tracey told a reporter from WPVI-TV. “I just wish the children would have listened. And I’m just so sorry.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Amtrak spokesman said the area is fenced and has “no trespassing” signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland said the city urges children to stay away from the tracks. “It’s early. We don’t know exactly what their reason for being there [was],” he said. “Our prayers go out to family members.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n