Neighbors Call For Action After Portage Toddlers Hit By Train

PORTAGE, IN — Less than a week after a 3-year-old boy died and his 2-year-old sister was injured when they were hit by a CSX freight train, their neighbors at the Woodland Village Mobile Home Park are calling for change. According to The Times, community members are calling on CSX to install a fence between the mobile home park and the tracks, which sit just south of the park at U.S. Highway 20.

The news report said community members created a petition on change.org in order to do just that, after officials said Tuesday an investigation by Portage Police Detectives indicated it appeared the toddlers, Caleb Wilson and his sister Ellie Wilson, snuck out a screen door of their nearby home and made their way to the CSX tracks.

The Times reported neighbors called on both the park's owner and CSX Railroad more than a decade ago to do something to protect the children living there.

According to a Portage police report, officers were called to a collision involving the train just south of the park around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, where Officer Laura Lightfoot was first to the scene and found two toddlers had been hit, and the 3-year-old was deceased, police said.

The 2-year-old was hurt and crying as Portage Fire Department crews arrived to help her, police said. The little girl was taken to Comers Children's Hospital by UCAN-(University of Chicago Aeromedical Network) helicopter crews.

A GoFundMe page has been created for Caleb Wilson's funeral costs. As of Monday afternoon, $200 of a $10,000 goal has been raised.

RELATED: Toddler Siblings Hit By Train, One Dead: Portage Police

"Recently our beloved housekeeper at Traditions Apartment Homes and IGC, Janet Wilson, lost her grandson Caleb Wilson to a tragic train accident," the post said. "We had the pleasure of meeting her grandbabies a couple of times and we would like to do anything we can to support Janet's family in this time of loss," adding the family will also have medical bill costs for Ellie.

According to the post, Ellie remains in the hospital where she's recovering.

Patch reported the train conductor told officials when he saw the toddlers on the tracks he blew the horn and tried to brake, but was unable to stop the train in time to avoid them.

Chief Troy Williams said the Portage Police Detective Bureau will continue to investigate this incident.

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner.