Two People Killed in Train-SUV Accident in Cedar Rapids

An accident Sunday afternoon in Cedar Rapids has claimed two lives.

Several 911 callers Sunday at approximately 4:23 pm, indicated a train and sport utility vehicle had been involved in an accident on the railroad tracks in the 3000 block of C St SW. The tracks are near the Tait Cummins Sports Complex, as shown below.

According to a release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department, officers along with firefighters and ambulance personnel were sent to the scene. When first responders arrived, they found a Union Pacific train had hit the SUV and the two people inside the passenger vehicle were both dead.

CBS 2 says two Ely men were killed in the incident. They were the 32-year-old driver, Ethan Mortensen, and his 66-year-old passenger, David Mortensen. The Cedar Rapids Police Department continues to investigate the accident.

Our condolences to the families of those that lost their lives in the accident and those operating the train. This is a terrible reminder of just how important it is to be extremely cautious near railroad tracks. There's a train-vehicle collision in the U.S. every 90 minutes.