PLANT CITY, Fla. — The Plant City community is mourning the loss of six people after a deadly crash involving a train and SUV over the weekend. The seventh person involved in this accident is expected to survive, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

What You Need To Know

  •    6 people were killed in a train accident in Plant City over the weeked
  •    One survivor, Guillermo Gama, is in the Hospital surrounded by loved ones
  •    Jennifer Cantu the aunt of Guillermo says they are asking for prayers for all those involved

For family members of Guillermo Gama, Saturday was a time for celebration, that’s because just past the railroad tracks was a family quinceañera, before the accident that took six lives and left one in the hospital.

“We waited here throughout the night with the other family and it was very hard, very hard for everyone. It was just a very sad night,” Jennifer Cantu said.

That’s how Cantu describes the night her nephew Gama was involved in a train accident on Saturday.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened just before 7 p.m. when a Cadillac Escalade was traveling southbound on Jim Lefler Circle from US highway 92, when a train struck the SUV.

Six people were killed in the crash, while the driver and passenger were taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital.

The driver died at the hospital on Sunday morning. Cantu says her nephew, the only survivor in this accident, continues to fight.

“They took him off sedation this morning just to see how he would react, and he was able to move his hand and know that he squeezed on to the hand to know that he’s listening and that he’s coming out of it,” she said.

The deceased victims were identified as Jose Hernandez, Enedelia Hernandez, Alyssa Hernandez, Anaelia Hernandez, Julian Hernandez and Jakub Lopez.

Cantu says this moment is a difficult one for all the families involved.

“We’re praying for all of them for the Hernandez family for the Lopez family. Plant City is a small town so everyone knows everyone. It’s affected a lot of people we’re all connected in some sort of way,” she said.

Cantu shares that Gama was getting his life back on track and he was even going back to school before this accident.

Now, in the hospital, his aunt says he’s surrounded by loved ones awaiting the long recovery journey ahead.

“We’re very grateful and thankful for all the prayers and you know more prayer for right now that he is in surgery,” she says.

Loved ones have continued to visit with them at the hospital and are grateful for those who are showing their support on social media. They also ask that you keep all families involved in your prayers.

 A statement from Sheriff Chad Chronister says:

“We are hopeful about this young man’s recovery and remain committed to not only the investigation but the healing of all those impacted.”