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Five family members killed as their car collides with a train in Colorado

A four-year-old girl was the only survivor of the crash, which occurred as the family were on their way to church

Tim Walker
US Correspondent
Monday 27 June 2016 18:38 BST
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The driver of the people carrier failed to yield to an oncoming train, police said
The driver of the people carrier failed to yield to an oncoming train, police said ((Reuters))

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Five family members were killed, including three children, as a passenger train struck their people carrier as they were on their way to church in southern Colorado. The Amtrak train collided with the car in Las Animas County at around 9.45am on Sunday morning, after the driver of the people carrier “failed to yield right of way” to the train, according to a statement by the Colorado State Patrol.

Steve Miller his wife Christina were killed, as were their three daughters Abigail, Kathryn and Ellianna, who were six years, two years and eight months old respectively. The only surivior was the couple’s four-year-old daughter, Heidi, who suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a Children’s Hospital in Denver. She is now reported to be in a stable condition.

Authorities said there was no suspicion of drug or alcohol use being involved in the accident. None of the crew of the Chicago to Los Angeles train service or its 286 passengers were injured, Amtrak said. The train suffered minor damage but resumed its journey at around 5pm after making repairs.

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