Two killed as train hits car on crossing

A high-speed passenger train collided with a car at a crossing in eastern Connecticut today, killing two and causing major delays on the Northeast rail line.

The accident happened on the southbound tracks, said Tracy Connell, a spokeswoman for the national train service Amtrak. Video taken from a TV helicopter showed the engine of the train resting on wreckage of a white car.

An adult and child in the car were killed, according to Connell. A second child was taken by helicopter to a hospital with serious injuries. The hospital would not release the child’s condition.

None of the 130 passengers on the train was injured. It was not clear if the gates at the crossing were down at the time of the accident.

The train is one of Amtrak’s high-speed express Acela trains, and operates between Boston and Washington. The train can travel up to speeds of 120 mph, but goes much slower through Connecticut.

The rail line was shut down in the area while police and Amtrak officials investigated the crash.

Amtrak expected significant delays between Boston and New York as a result of the collision.