A 29-year-old woman in Hidalgo, Mexico, tragically died after attempting to take a selfie with a train bound for Mexico City but got too close to the tracks. The woman, who has not been identified, was part of a crowd gathered to witness the final leg of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) 1930 Empress 2816 steam locomotive’s journey.
This historic journey departed from Calgary in Alberta, Canada, on April 24 and marked the first steam-powered passenger train to traverse across Canada, the United States, and Mexico in a single trip. Footage of the incident, obtained by TMZ, shows excited spectators holding up phones and cheering as the speeding locomotive approached. The victim, wearing an orange top, can be seen inching dangerously close to the tracks with her back to the train while attempting to capture a selfie.
In a tragic instant, she was struck by the train, knocked off her feet, and tossed to the side of the tracks. First responders arrived at the scene and pronounced the woman dead a short time later. Her family was present in Hidalgo at the time of the incident. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) released a statement confirming that an investigation is underway. “We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and wish to express our condolences to the woman’s family and loved ones,” the joint rail network said.
The statement also emphasized safety precautions: “For their own safety and that of the crews, all spectators looking at any train must always remain at least 10 meters back from the train and the tracks. Spectators must never stand on railway tracks, try to board rail equipment, or climb on rail infrastructure. Always use caution around tracks and trains.”
