FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A crash involving a train and several vehicles in downtown Fort Lauderdale left a woman hospitalized early Saturday morning when a car was propelled into the entrance of a nearby bar, police said.
The collision happened near Second Avenue and Second Street, where three vehicles were stopped on the tracks as the train approached.
Fort Lauderdale police said the train struck the back of a pickup truck, and two other vehicles crashed into each other while trying to move off the tracks.
One car was pushed onto the sidewalk and into the front doors of The Den Sports Bar and Lounge, located at 201 SW Second St., striking a woman outside.
“One of the cars ended up getting on the sidewalk and hitting another lady,” said witness Dorrien Francois.
Authorities said she was taken to Broward Health Medical Center. Her condition has not been released. Other drivers involved were seen walking and talking at the scene.
The crash unfolded as nearby businesses were packed with customers.
“How busy was it?” asked Local 10’s Jackie Pascale.
“Busy, very busy. We sold out,” said Anthony Lavista of the Boozy Bites food cart, which was working nearby around 3:30 a.m.
“We heard a bit crash real quick so we looked up and a jeep was like wedged in between,” he said.
Francois, who captured cellphone video of the aftermath, described the chaos.
“I ain’t gonna lie I was scared cause I could’ve been the one standing on the side of that corner, I could’ve been the lady who got hit by the car,” he said.
As crime scene tape went up, people scrambled to leave, some climbing through the stopped train to get away.
“Everybody started running towards us, you know, they were scared,” Lavista said.
The Den Sports Bar and Lounge sustained heavy damage to its front doors, which have since been removed and boarded up. The bar planned to reopen Saturday night using a side entrance.
Witnesses say the crash is a reminder to stay alert on the road.
“Watch how you driving. People got kids to go home to, a family to go home to so just when y’all driving out here, just watch what y’all are doing,” Francois said.
Authorities have not released any information on the current condition or age of the victim and the investigation into the crash remains “ongoing.”
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