One was reported dead and two gravely injured after four people who were taking photos of the sunset near Santa Barbara in Southern California were reportedly hit by a passenger train on Saturday.

A woman was pronounced dead on the scene while two men were rushed to the hospital after they were hit by a passenger train in Goleta at around six in the evening on Saturday.

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Authorities reported that four people, identified to be two women and two men in their 20s, were seen taking photos of the sunset at around 5:59 p.m. while standing on the train trestle near Vista Point close to the coast of Refugio Beach. According to reports, an Amtrak train going at normal track speed then came around the corner, catching the two couples off guard.

"The train was going slowly for sightseeing, and I don't think it was a really close call. One train crew member said if it was one of their regular freight trains at normal speed, these people would not have made it," said Phil Gravelle, a freelancer interviewed by the Caledon Enterprise.

One woman immediately died after the collision, a male victim was airlifted to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after sustaining major injuries to the head and upper body, while another victim was transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance after suffering moderate wounds.

According to reports, the group tried to run after seeing the speeding train about to hit them. One of the four people was able to survive the incident unscathed.

The tragic accident shines light on how difficult it has been for authorities to keep railroad tracks safer as fencing it off is more impractical, especially if the area is a high-traffic pedestrian zone.

"Police would like to remind that trespassing on rail lines is both illegal and dangerous as trains can operate and are unable to stop quickly," Ontario Police spokesperson Brenda Evans stated.

TagsAmtrak, Southern California, Santa Barbara, accident, train crash