Injuries fatal to girl after train hits her

Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIGFrom left, Gonzales Police Officer John McCoy, Mayor Barney Arceneaux, former Police Chief Bill Landry and Detective Sgt. Steve Nethken confer near the location where a train struck and killed a 7-year-old girl Tuesday in Gonzales.

Advocate staff report

GONZALES — A 7-year-old girl died at a hospital Tuesday evening after she was hit by a train near Tobey Street, a Gonzales police spokesman said.

The girl, whose identity was not released, was on her way home from a park with her 14-year-old sister and two other children, Sgt. Steven Nethken said.

The 7-year-old began running to cross the tracks, near La. 44 and Tobey Street, while trying to playfully race her sister home, Nethken said.

As the girl reached the tracks, an oncoming train blew its horn to catch the girl’s attention, Nethken said.

The girl froze in place, and the train hit her, Nethken said. Police were called to the scene around 6:10 p.m., he said.

The investigation is ongoing, Nethken said; police were interviewing family members Tuesday evening.