A woman died on her way to work during the "very bad weather" of Thursday's nor'easter when the sports utility vehicle she was riding in slid into a railroad crossing and collided with a passing SEPTA train.
Her co-worker, who was driving, was able to jump from the SUV before it struck the train along Red Lion Road in Lower Moreland. The victim was found dead by police a short time after the 9:30 a.m. crash. She had been ejected from the SUV.
An exact cause of the crash was not immediately determined, but Lower Moreland police Chief Pete Hassan said it was possible the slippery road conditions from the storm could have been a factor.
"It's obvious there was some snow and very bad weather at the time of the accident," Hasson said.
The West Trenton Regional Rail line was immediately shut down as police investigated the crash. Full service on the line resumed around 1:30 p.m.
Hasson said the weather "was so bad, that could have been a factor."
The intersection also is on the decline of a hill, he said.
"It’s a downhill grade, and we’re trying to determine how much of a factor that was in addition to the weather conditions," Hasson said.
He said the two women would not be identified until their families were notified. He did not say where they worked.
