A dramatic scene unfolded in Oakland Park on Saturday evening after a car collided with an Amtrak train and burst into flames, sending smoke and fire high into the air.
The crash happened just before 7:30 p.m. near Powerline Road and Prospect Road. According to family members who spoke with reporters, the vehicle involved belonged to a woman who was a family friend — and her car had reportedly developed engine trouble right before it was struck. The car had apparently gotten stuck on the tracks after breaking down, and the driver managed to get out just before the train slammed into it.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said crews were flooded with 911 calls reporting that a vehicle was on fire along the tracks. Both Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews responded and found the car burning next to the stopped Amtrak train. Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and then boarded the train to check on everyone inside.
The scene looked far worse than the outcome. A witness driving by at the time described the panic in the moment, saying it looked like the fire was exploding right underneath the train.
Passengers on board could be seen moving through the train cars as the fire spread nearby, according to another witness who watched the chaos unfold from outside.
While the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said no major injuries were reported, Oakland Park Fire Rescue confirmed that one person from the train was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The driver of the car was not injured.
Emergency crews shut down the grade crossings near Powerline and Prospect roads while the investigation continued, and traffic in the area was detoured. Both Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and the Broward Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
The exact cause of the car’s breakdown on the tracks is still under investigation.
