Mother killed, daughter survives in train crash near KC that split truck in two

A collision with a train has killed a KC-area mother of two and injured her 6-year-old daughter and boyfriend.

Jennifer Norris, 41, was the only one of the three occupants not thrown from a small pickup truck as it was struck by an Amtrak train in their hometown of Atherton, Mo., located in east Jackson County.

While Norris was killed, her 6-year-old daughter, Lily Veach, survived with just minor scrapes and bruises.

“There was clearly an angel with Lily,” said Angie Garcia, Norris’ sister, in a message to The Star.

Norris’ boyfriend, Daniel Infranca, is in critical condition, and the family was awaiting an update Saturday afternoon.

Norris had lived in the small, unincorporated community all her life.

“They were just going to the gas station real quick and coming back home,” Garcia said. “Just like that, she’s gone.”

She added that her heart aches for Norris’ parents and daughters. Norris also has a 19-year-old daughter.

The circumstances of the crash were described to Garcia by a friend, who was in the vehicle behind Norris’ at the time of the crash.

Norris’ truck was struck when she tried to drive around the crossing gate that had not lifted after a train passed.

The train that had passed came to a halt on the tracks beyond the crossing, possibly blocking Norris’ view of a second train that was approaching.

In the collision, Garcia said the truck was split in two. Even though Lily was thrown from the vehicle, she was released less than a day later with just minor scrapes and bruises.

Marc Magliari, a spokesman for Amtrak, said there are no indications that the train — known as the Southwest Chief — malfunctioned. It runs daily from Chicago to Los Angeles, and it was delayed by about three hours following the crash.

None of the more than 100 occupants of the train was injured.

“These incidents are often tragic and are avoidable by drivers if they heed the warnings of the approaching train and wait a minute or so for it to pass,” he said.

A GoFundMe account for Norris’ funeral expenses was created Saturday. About $100 had been raised by Saturday afternoon toward a $10,000 goal.

“Love and cherish the people close to you,” Garcia said. “Life isn’t promised to you.”

This story was originally published January 20, 2018 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Mother killed, daughter survives in train crash near KC that split truck in two."