'Standing right by a train... this is awesome': Tragic last Facebook message of girls, 15, killed seconds later by freight train
- Trio believed to have been caught between two trains coming from opposite directions
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Two 15-year-old girls died and a 13-year-old girl was critically injured after they were struck by a freight train in Utah.
Utah County sheriff's Sgt Spencer Cannon said the three girls were taking photos when they were hit on Saturday evening in Spanish Fork Canyon.
He said the teenagers apparently knew one train was coming, but did not realise another was coming from the opposite direction and became caught between them.
From left: Savannah Webster, Kelsea Webster and Essa Ricker pictured on Facebook. Ricker and Kelsea Webster, both 15, were killed after being hit by a freight train in Spanish Fork Canyon on Saturday evening. Savannah Webster is in critical condition
Moments before the accident one of the girls had posted; 'Standing right by a train ah haha this is awesome' on her Facebook page.
Essa Ricker and Kelsea Webster were killed in the accident. Kelsea's sister Savannah underwent surgery at the Primary Children's Medical Center yesterday.
The 13-year-old was reported to be 'screaming' when emergency services arrived at the scene.
Sgt Cannon said: 'It's tragic what happened, but the fact that she was responsive, as hard as it is to see, we're waiting and hoping that things turn out for her.'
The tragic last Facebook message Savannah 'Savy' Webster posted moments before she was hit by a train
The girls were hit by a freight train on Saturday evening. Pictured are diesel engines entering a tunnel in Spanish Fork Canyon (file picture)
Sgt Cannon said one train either hit the girls or threw them into the path of the other, but it was also possible they were hit by both trains. The area has two sets of tracks.
Sgt Cannon told the Deseret News the noise from the first train may have prevented the girls from hearing the second one.
He added: 'Or maybe they realised it was there, and it was just too late for them to get away.
'We just don't know. But there's just a thunderous noise as they're standing that close to the train.'
Sisters Kelsea and Savannah had moved to Utah from California just two months ago
Karen Webster, the grandmother of Kelsea and Savannah described the trio as 'sweet, wonderful girls having a good time.'
She told the Salt Lake Tribune: 'They just loved nature, and they were taking pictures of fall.
She added: 'They were watching the train, waving to the [engineer] as he went by.'
According to Sgt Cannon, the engineer of an eastbound train reported seeing the girls between the sets of tracks before sounding his horn.
'He told deputies the girls did not respond to his blasting of the horn and he was unable to stop before hitting them,' Cannon said.
Pupils at Diamond Fork Junior High School in Spanish Fork have created a Facebook page encouraging their classmates to wear their 'Best Dress for Essa and Kelsea' today in honour of Essa Ricker and Kelsea Webster
Mary Scobell, who lives close to the tracks said dozens of trains pass through every day and that locals are aware of the two sets of tracks.
She said: 'We always tell our visitors, if there's a train and it goes past, you still don't get on the tracks.
'You count a few seconds, look right and left to make sure (another) train isn't coming.'
Essa and Kelsea both attended Diamond Fork Junior High School in Spanish Fork. The Webster sisters had moved to the area from California just two months ago.
A Facebook page has been set up encouraging the pair's classmates to wear their 'best dresses' in honour of the girls today.
Bruce Hiskey, president of the nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said: 'It's very devastating.
'These are vibrant, good young women. They were having a beautiful time on a beautiful fall day, and it's just a tragedy this happened.'
The girls were taking photos of themselves when they died, a frequent hobby
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