Featured Image Credit: Jam Press
Topics: Mexico, News, World News
Niamh Shackleton
A woman has died after being struck by a train in Mexico while trying to take a selfie by the locomotive.
On Monday (June 3), crowds gathered by a railway in the town of Nopala de Villagran, Mexico, to witness a vintage stream train travel through the area.
The train, named The Empress 2816, was part of CPKC's Final Spike Steam Tour.
Announcing the tour in January, Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO said in a news release: "The Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour will be the first ever steam-powered passenger train in North America to traverse Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in a single trip."
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The tour began in April and was set to end on July 10 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Dozens of people gathered to see The Empress for themselves as it passed through Nopala de Villagran, but one woman got too close to the tracks in a bid to try get a selfie as the train passed her and was ultimately hit by the moving locomotive.
The woman, who has since been named as 29-year-old Dulce Alondra, sadly died in the ordeal.
The horrific accident was caught on camera, where Dulce could be seen crouching down by a child while holding her phone up for a photo.
It isn't believed the young boy, thought to be Dulce's child, was injured.
In the wake of Dulce's passing, CPKC Mexico has issued a statement.
"A woman has been fatally injured while she was very close to the track taking a picture," the authority told the Mirror.
"CPKC Mexico is cooperating with the relevant authorities and will make all the necessary information available to investigators."
Going on to issue a warning about people's safety near railway lines, CPKC went on: "CPKC Mexico calls on people who come to witness the passing of this locomotive to take precautions and not approach or cross the railway tracks for their own safety and that of the crew on board.
"All those people who want to observe the passing of the train should remain at least 10 metres away from the tracks.
"People should never stop near or on the tracks themselves or try to climb onto the train or any railway infrastructure. Always be careful around railway tracks and trains."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.