A train conductor recounted the tragic incident when a train collided with a group of teenage girls.
In 2011, teenagers Essa Ricker and Kelsea Webster, both 15, were spending the day with Kelsea’s younger sister Savannah.
Like many teenagers at the time, they documented their day with photos to share on social media later.
Unfortunately, one of these seemingly innocent selfies led to the girls losing their lives.
They snapped a photo on the tracks in Utah’s Spanish Fork Canyon, unaware of the approaching train.
Tragically, the train struck them, resulting in fatal injuries.
John Anderson was the conductor of the Union Pacific train during the incident.
Engineer Michael Anderson, also on board, sounded the horn to warn the girls but received no reaction. They both shouted warnings as well.
“They were in their own little world,” John noted.
“We were horrified as we approached. We saw them for only 12 seconds before they were no longer in sight as the train continued on.”
Once the train stopped, John disembarked to find Essa and Kelsea had died.
Savannah, aged 13, was critically injured but alive.
John recalled: “I reassured her it would be okay, and she seemed to relax a bit. I truly believed she would survive.”
Tragically, Savannah did not survive, as her family ultimately had to remove her from life support after doctors confirmed she would not recover from her brain injuries.
Just moments before the accident, Savannah had posted on Facebook: “Standing right by a train ahaha this is awsome!!!! [sic]”
Providing an update during that period, Savannah and Kelsea’s mother, Jayna Webster, wrote on a blog, according to MailOnline: “We spoke with the doctors today, and they informed us that Savvy’s brain injuries were too severe.
Despite doing everything possible, Savannah will not be able to recover any further. We will keep her on life support until the end of the day, but it’s time to say goodbye, for now, to an angel who walked among us.”
Savannah passed away on October 19, 2011, days after her sister and Essa.
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