BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (KYW) – Police in Pennsylvania are investigating what happened after a firefighter and his two adult sons were fatally struck by an Amtrak train.
Christopher Cramp, 56, was a trustee and lifetime member of the America Hose Hook and Ladder Fire Company. He and his two sons, 31-year-old David Cramp and 24-year-old Thomas Cramp, were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a train on the tracks near Bristol Station in Bucks County.
Police say the three family members were struck just before 6 p.m. by an Amtrak Acela train traveling south toward Philadelphia. The exact circumstances of the collision are still unclear, but Thomas Cramp’s death was ruled a suicide.
“This is a horrific tragedy,” said Bristol Borough Police Chief Joseph Moors.
Tony Bucci, the chief of the fire company where Christopher Cramp was a member, says the incident happened just minutes down the road from his firehouse.
“It still hasn’t really hit yet. It’s a shock,” Bucci said. “Chris, I’ve probably known since he was way high. We go way back, not just firehouse but personally.”
Fellow firefighters remember Christopher Cramp as a man who would give anything to help others. His passion was mental health and homeless outreach. In September, the 56-year-old joined Buck County’s Department of Housing and Community Development Office. Officials say he worked tirelessly through street outreach for years beforehand.
“He could really affect people’s lives. Some of us think we can. Chris absolutely changed lives,” said Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia.
The wife of one of Christopher Cramp’s sons says they come from a big family, and this is a huge loss everyone is trying to process.
Police are still investigating the incident.
Officials say none of the passengers and crew members aboard the train were hurt. Amtrak service between Philadelphia and New York was halted for nearly five hours.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please text or call ‘988’ to connect with a skilled, caring counselor.
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