15-year-old student killed by passing train after school, Texas officials say

A 15-year-old girl was struck and killed by a passing train near her high school on Tuesday, March 8, according to a Texas school district.

The Killeen Police Department posted about the crash near Killeen High School around 4:50 p.m. Tuesday.

A witness to the crash, Armando Menchaca, said he saw the girl jump over train tracks as a train was approaching, but she did not make it over in time. He rushed to help the girl, who he said had no pulse, according to the Killeen Daily Herald.

“It was pretty horrific,” said Menchaca, a parent at the school.

School district officials confirmed in a statement to McClatchy News the girl was a 15-year-old student at Killeen High School. Her identity has not been released.

“We extend our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the student’s family and friends,” Killeen Independent School District said in the statement.

The school district says it will provide crisis counselors to students “as long as they are needed.”

Officers told KWTX they were investigating the incident but did not have any additional information on the crash.

Killeen is in Central Texas, about 70 miles north of Austin.

This story was originally published March 9, 2022 at 6:30 AM with the headline "15-year-old student killed by passing train after school, Texas officials say."