Fatal Amtrak Train Crash in Polk County Kills Mother and Son

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 25, 2021

Local law enforcement and additional Polk County authorities are currently working to determine the exact cause of a deadly Amtrak train accident that occurred on April 22^nd, 2021, and claimed the lives of a 20-year-old mother, her 4-month-old son, and severely injured another individual who was in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

According to preliminary collision reports from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, it was approximately 3:15 p.m. this past Thursday afternoon when officials first received notification regarding a train vs. car accident with potential fatalities along South Scenic Highway near the tracks between Livingston Lake Road and U.S. 98 close to Frostproof, Florida. Upon their arrival at the crash site, emergency responders discovered that the Kia SUV in question had been ripped in half from the force of impact with the train, with bits of car pieces and wreckage strewn across the area. Upon further inspection, rescuers found 26-year-old Kayla Cobb, 20-year-old Shala Cobb, and a 4-month old infant occupying the badly mangled vehicle and suffering from serious life-threatening injuries.

Although Polk County medical teams employed their best efforts to save everyone involved in the deadly train crash, 20-year-old Shala Cobb was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severe injuries she sustained in the collision. Her 4-month old son was immediately transported to Florida Hospital Heartland in Sebring, but he tragically passed away shortly after arriving at the emergency room. Kayla Cobb, the 26-year-old driver and sister/aunt to the deceased surprisingly survived the accident with only minor injuries.

It was only after multiple witnesses to the horrific crash stepped forward that Polk County officers were able to somewhat piece together a timeline of events leading up to the Amtrak accident. Their accounts indicate that as 26-year-old Kayla Cobb, the Kia’s driver, pulled up to the illuminated train crossing, she then proceeded to drive around the intersection’s safety bar presumably because she assumed she could “beat out” the high-speed passenger train that was quickly approaching from the southbound direction. Sadly, this split-second decision had deadly ramifications for her family members, and it is quite possible that she will face serious legal consequences in the near future once the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is able to complete its investigation.

Sources:

• Woman, infant son killed in crash with Amtrak train that split car in half

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.