INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 35-year-old Vero Beach woman was fatally struck by a northbound Brightline train traveling through the county late Friday, sheriff’s officials said. This is the second fatality this year involving Brightline to occur in Indian River County.
“The train conductor made the call into 911,” said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. “The body was located approximately 100 yards north of the Fourth Street crash.”
Indian River County sheriff’s deputies identified the woman as Emily Alexandra Kayser. Jaworski said Kayser’s family has been notified about the deadly wreck.
Deputies responded to the call about 7:03 p.m. about a pedestrian that was hit by the train at the Fourth Street railroad crossing, just west of U.S 1. None of the 200 passengers aboard the Brightline train were hurt, Jaworski said.
The high-speed passenger train was moving at 79 mph. The railroad crossing arms were in the lowered position at the time of impact, Jaworski said.
The passengers were offloaded to another Brightline train. The train had left the area, Jaworski said.
Deputies closed Fourth Street at the railroad crossing. All lanes were reopened about 11 p.m. Friday.
Jaworski said deputies will search for any nearby surveillance footage of the crash.
“It is too early to say if this was an intentional act,” Jaworski said.
