Aventura Police Investigate Second Train Crash

AVENTURA, FL — Police are investigating a second train crash involving a Florida East Coast Railway (FEC)freight train in recent weeks. The latest crash occurred on Halloween night when a car was struck by a northbound train at Biscayne Boulevard and Ives Dairy Road, according to Aventura police. A woman was struck by an FEC train on Oct. 17 and died a few days later of her injuries.

Sergeant Chris Goranitis, of the Aventura Police Department said that the Halloween crash occurred at 7:20 p.m.

"The driver of the vehicle has been transported to the hospital in stable condition by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue," according to Goranitis, who did not immediately release the victim's name. He said that traffic was diverted for a time along Ives Dairy Road.

The vehicle that was struck on Tuesday night was totaled and had to be towed from the scene, Goranitis added. He did not say what caused the crash.

Traffic in the area was already affected by a road closure at Miami Gardens Drive and the FEC railway. The closure began on Oct. 25 at 7 a.m. and was scheduled to continue through Saturday, Nov. 4," according to police.

All Aboard Florida, the parent company of Brightline and MiamiCentral, has been performing construction improvements necessary for the introduction of the Brightline passenger rail service.

The victim of the first incident was identified as Terri A. Morhoff, who had just celebrated her 53rd birthday. Police have not said what led to Morhoff being struck by the train.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano