Two teenage girls were hit and killed by an Amtrak train in Delaware County, nine miles south of Philadelphia 30th Street Station Thursday morning.
Family and friends of the two 15 and 16-year-old Interboro High School sophomores, gathered at the accident site at 501 Welcome Avenue in Norwood, and at the Norwood Police station.
The identity of the girls is yet to be released. It is still unclear why the teens were standing on the tracks. According to Norwood police, a third girl was at the scene when the girls were struck. She is cooperating with police.
A ticket agent at SEPTA's Norwood station said he saw the girls standing on the southbound side shortly before the accident, reports the Inquirer. Bruce Wright, who didn't see the train hit the girls, said that one of the teens was on a cell phone.
Because of the fatal accident, Amtrak placed all four tracks south of Philadelphia on hold for about two hours. Rail traffic is now moving but passengers should expect delays.
The two girls were killed at 10:28 a.m. by high-speed Acela train 2151, which runs from Boston to Washington D.C. through New York and Philadelphia.
Northbound Amtrak trains 2158, 86 and 184 were stopped for at least two hours.
High-speed Acela trains are allowed to go as fast as 110 m.p.h. through the area.
