Mother killed, man and child hurt after collision with train

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. – A Kansas City-area mother is dead after a train collided with her pickup truck Friday night near Atherton, Mo. 

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the collision happened at an intersection near N. Atherton Rd. and E. Adams Rd. around 9:30 p.m.

An Amtrak train with over 100 passengers on board hit a pickup truck that reportedly drove around the barricade. 

Angie Garcia lives in Houston and says her sister, Jennifer Norris, 41, was killed in the collision. 
According to Garcia, a train was coming down the tracks and stopped near the intersection. The barricades were still down, but a vehicle in front of Norris went around them. So, Norris did too. 

Garcia says because a train was already stopped on the tracks, Norris likely didn’t see the Amtrak coming as well. 

“You just lose patience sitting at that train track all the time,” says Garcia. “She was going to the gas station and now she’s gone. Life is so short.”

Norris’ boyfriend and 6-year-old daughter were in the truck as well when the train hit. Garcia says the girl only suffered scrapes and bruises. Norris’ boyfriend is still in the hospital with two broken legs. 

Garcia says there was also family in the car behind Norris as the collision happened. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses.The money will also go towards Norris’ two daughters. 

Garcia says she’ll remember her sister’s sense of humor and tomboy habits growing up.

“She is one of the toughest people I’ve ever met in my life,” Garcia said about her sister. “She was just as tough as nails, and for her to be the first one of us to be gone… it’s just so unreal.” 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s office said no one on the train was injured. 

Amtrak released the following statement to 41 Action News: