CHESTER – Two teenagers were killed by a passing Amtrak train around 5 p.m. May 9 in the village of Chester.
Chesterfield police identified the teens as Presley A. Trent, 13, of the 10800 block of Erin Green Court, and Samuel W. Rivas, 18, of the 13600 block of Quail Hollow Lane.
Police Lt. John Miller said Trent was a student at Elizabeth Davis Middle School, and Rivas attended Clover Hill High School.
The girl and boy were standing on the tracks watching another train pass when they were struck by the passenger train, Miller said. He does not believe the teens were wearing earbuds or talking on their phones at the time.
Evidence from the Amtrak train’s video helped investigators. Three of the victims’ friends were about 50 feet away from them when they were struck, Miller said.
A 75-year-old man who lives nearby at Festival Apartments in Chester Village said young people walk on the tracks every day.
The Amtrak train was traveling from Savannah, Ga. to New York City when it came into contact with persons trespassing on the tracks at milepost 12.3 at 4:56 p.m., a press release states. There were no injuries reported to the 123 passengers or crew members on board. The incident contributed to delays for three other Amtrak trains.
Each year, about 2,000 people are killed or injured in grade crossing and railroad trespassing incidents nationwide, the release states.wide, the release states.
