A California woman is behind bars after allegedly urging her little girl to cross railroad tracks by going under a train car that had temporarily stopped on Monday.
KTLA 5 reports that Joy Frances Collins, 44, was with her two children, a 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter, on Monday evening as she tried to get to a bus stop by its 6 p.m. pick-up. Before they reached the bus stop, a mile-long train stopped in their path, close to Belmont Avenue near Effie Street in Fresno.
Collins and her son successfully crossed under the train, but little girl, reluctant to cross, stayed behind. Collins reportedly urged the little girl to cross immediately so they wouldn’t miss their bus. The girl listened to her mother but while she crossed under the train, it began to move. The train dragged the child around 500 feet before it stopped again. At that point, Collins grabbed the girl and pulled her from tracks.
By the time police arrived, however, the girl had died.
Collins reportedly explained to police that she had crossed under trains numerous times in the past with her children. Yet, train stops for around 12 seconds before taking off again.
According to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, Collins has had previous run-ins with Child Protective Services, as well as a criminal history for theft. Authorities arrested Collins and charged her with trespassing and “suspicion of child neglect likely to cause great bodily injury or death.”
The story continues to develop. Check back CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
LIVE: The Fresno Police Department is holding a press conference about the girl who was hit and killed by the train yesterday.
Posted by CBS47 Fresno on Tuesday, December 18, 2018
[Feature Photo: Frances Collins/Police Handout]
