Two young daughters of an Arkansas pastor were killed when a train barreled into their father’s pick-up truck – pushing it along for thousands of feet — in a crash that “devastated” the family’s church community.
The violent collision also critically injured Pastor Chad Fryar, 37, and his young son after the Chevy Silverado that Fryar was driving was struck by the train while crossing the tracks, state police said, according to reports.
The pick-up truck became wedged at the front of the train, which forcefully pushed the vehicle about 2,400 feet before the train came to a screeching halt, KTHV reported.
Both father and son needed to be airlifted to hospitals.
“We are devastated by yesterday’s tragic events and the loss of Marlee Jo and Dana Kate,” the Crossroads Cowboy Church in El Paso, Arkansas said in a Facebook post, identifying the two young daughters.
The church identified the injured boy as Bo Henry, and said Friday both father and son were recovering.
Pastor Ron Riddle of Crossroads Cowboy Church told KTHV the family is “the kind of friends and church family you want to have.”
“Life has no guarantees,” Riddle said. “God gives us life one second at a time without ever promising us that another second is coming.”
The El Paso church noted the Fryar family launched a chapter of the church in Bismarck, Arkansas which has been updating congregants on how the family is doing and how they can help them.
The church also set up a prayer circle for the grieving family this weekend.
Union Pacific Railroad said no one on the train was injured, KARK reported.
The crash is under investigation.
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