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Amtrak passengers deboard following the crash (WWJ Photo/Pat Sweeting)

Posted: Saturday, 11 July 2009 5:24AM

Families, Friends Mourn Car-Train Crash Victims



Taylor (WWJ)  -- Counseling will be available Saturday as family and friends mourn the loss of five young people killed in a car-train accident in Canton Township. 

Among the victims was 14-year old Jessica Sadler who was a student at Taylor Truman High School. 

Taylor School District staff members who are trained in grief counseling will be available at Truman High School from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to provide support and assistance for students and staff. 

Friday night, more than 100 family members and friends gathered in Taylor's Northwest Park to pray, sing and pay respects to the victims.  

Authorities say 19-year-old Dan Broughton of Woodhaven was driving with a suspended license on Thursday.  Others killed were Sadler's boyfriend 18-year-old Eddie Gross and 19-year-old Sean Harris of Taylor, along with Harris' 21-year-old brother Terrence of Stafford, Va.

Visitation and services for Sadler and Gross are set for this coming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Click here for more details.

Canton Township police said Friday Broughton was driving on a suspended license and used "bad judgment."

Police Sgt. Mark Gajeski said 19-year-old Dan Broughton was driving, headed northbound on Hannan Road between Michigan Avenue and Van Born Road when the crash happened about 12:30 p.m.

The crossing on Hannan Road has a crossing gate and flashing lights that were working when the car approached, said Gajeski.  Videotape from a nearby business confirmed the car drove around the crossing gate, Gajeski said late Thursday afternoon.    View the video here

According to the Secretary of State,  Broughton shouldn't have been driving. Records show Broughton received two tickets for disobeying a stop sign and speeding in Highland Park January 7, 2009. Because he didn't pay or go to court his license was suspended March 12. Following this, Broughton received two more tickets for driving with a suspended license, and his license was once against suspended on July 8.

No crew members or passengers on the Amtrak train were injured.  The only reported medical problem among the approximately 150 people on the train was a case of a passenger with asthma, Gajeski said.

Canton Township police spokesman Sgt. Mark Gajeski said Friday there was no indication that alcohol or anything else was involved ``other than bad judgment'' in the crash. Gajeski said he expected that toxicology tests would be done by the medical examiner's office.

 


© MMIX WWJ Radio, All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 
 
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