Police said crossing arms were down and warning signals were active when the crash happened Sunday afternoon.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when a car entered an active railroad crossing on Roseland Drive and was struck by a northbound Brightline train, West Palm Beach police said.
The crash brought police and fire crews to the 600 block of Roseland Drive around 3:15 p.m. and closed the area while investigators examined the crossing. Police said the two people inside the vehicle were ejected and died from their injuries at the scene. Their names had not been released as officials worked to notify relatives.
Investigators said the vehicle was traveling west on Roseland Drive when it crossed onto the tracks and hit the side of the passing train. Police said the crossing arms were down and the warning lights and sounds were working at the time of impact. A West Palm Beach police official said alcohol may have been a factor, but the department described that finding as preliminary and said the investigation remained active. No injuries aboard the train were reported in the first public accounts of the crash.
Witness Keyly Rivera told WPTV she heard the moments before the impact from nearby. “We heard the screeching of the tire when they turned the corner,” Rivera said. She said a loud crash followed within seconds, and when she looked toward the crossing she saw debris and smoke. The crash left police units at the scene for hours as officers marked evidence, checked the crossing equipment and worked to reconstruct the vehicle’s path.
The collision happened along a busy rail corridor used by Brightline, the private passenger rail service that runs trains through South Florida and to Orlando. The tracks in many parts of the route run at street level through downtowns and neighborhood crossings. Local police agencies have investigated several fatal Brightline crashes in recent years, many involving vehicles or people entering crossings while trains were approaching. In this case, police said the warning system was active, but they had not said why the vehicle entered the crossing.
The West Palm Beach Police Department and fire rescue responded to the crash, and police said the case would remain under review while investigators gathered statements and evidence from the scene. Officials had not announced any charges or citations Sunday night. The next steps include confirming the victims’ identities, reviewing any available video, examining the vehicle and documenting whether impairment played a role. Police did not immediately release the ages, hometowns or relationship of the two people killed.
The crash scene sat near Roseland Drive, where the roadway meets the railroad tracks in a developed part of West Palm Beach. Images from the scene showed emergency vehicles near the crossing and debris near the rail line. Officials said the train was traveling north when the collision occurred. Police did not immediately say how many passengers were on the Brightline train or whether rail service was delayed after the crash.
As of Monday, the crash remained under investigation, and authorities had not released the victims’ names. Police said more information would be provided after family notifications and further review of the evidence.
Author note: Last updated May 25, 2026.