TAMPA, Fla. — The family that was killed in a train crash in Plant City will be laid to rest on Wednesday.

Five members of the Hernandez family, in addition to two friends, were driving in an SUV when it was hit by a train on Sept. 23. 

What You Need To Know

  • Six people were killed in a train crash in Plant City on Sept. 23

  • The Hernandez family, in addition to two friends, were driving in an SUV when it was hit by a train

  • One of the passengers was seriously injured and expected to survive

  • Previous story on the crash

Six of the passengers died. One was seriously injured but is expected to survive. 

Friends of the Hernandez family have described them as good people who loved others like their own family and will be missed by everyone who knew them. More than 100 people came together last week to remember the family and released balloons to symbolize their unity. 

Following the deadly crash, a Hillsborough County commissioner is looking into putting signals and crossbars at every railroad intersection in the county. There are 19 intersections in the county – including the one where the crash happened – that have just a stop sign and no flashing lights or crossing arms, according to Commissioner Michael Owen, whose district includes Plant City.

“I can’t imagine what this family is going through,” Owen said. “To lose so many of your family members in one accident, it’s devastating. But I’m going to take every measure I can. As far as Hillsborough County goes, we’re going to take every measure we can if we can improve the safety at this intersection because it’s obviously a problem.”

During Wednesday’s commission meeting, Owen plans to ask the board’s legal department to figure out what they can do to make those crossings safer. Owen explained because the intersection where the Sept. 23 crash happened is on a private road, the board first has to figure out what they legally can do.

But he’s confident other county commissioners will support the idea. 

“These railroad crossings, this particular one, wasn’t designed to have high traffic on it,” Owen said. “That’s part of the issue going back to the property owner who’s using the property commercially for events, when this road and the safety measures on this road are not there at the intersection.”

Owen said the county has sent a violation notice to the property owner, alleging they don’t have the permits to use the space as an event venue. 

Five members of the Hernandez family will be laid to rest at a joint funeral on Wednesday. Funeral services for the sixth victim, Jakub Lopez, are scheduled for Thursday.