EFFINGHAM, SC (WMBF) – One person has died after a train crashed into a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle (ATV) Sunday afternoon, and authorities have now identified the victim.
Capt. Mike Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff's Office said the collision happened around 3:45 p.m., on Smallwood Road north of Effingham, near S. Irby Street, also known as U.S. Highway 52 and U.S. Highway 301.
Nunn said a CSX freight train hit the ATV, which had two people on it. The passenger on the ATV was killed. The driver suffered minor injuries, Nunn said.
Florence County Deputy Coroner Don Reynolds has identified the deceased victim as 32-year-old Tanya Clemons. Reynolds said the victim was from the area, with an address on Smallwood Road, not far from the railroad crossing.
Coroner Reynolds says the driver of the ATV was Clemons' husband who claims they were driving east on Smallwood Road and he did not see the train until they were too close to the tracks.
As they tried to swerve away from the tracks, the husband claims, the ATV flipped landing in front of the train with Mrs. Clemons and ejecting her husband from the train's path.
The victim's sister tells WMBF News that, "Tanya was a wonderful and loving wife, mother and sister. She always made us laugh and we will miss that more than anything. This tragedy has broken the hearts of all her family and friends. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers given to us during this very difficult times."
Nunn said investigators are not sure why the ATV was on the railroad tracks at the time or how long it had been there.
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