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City extends condolences, praises those responding

Editor,
Shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday, tragedy struck in downtown Vandalia, as an SUV carrying a mother and her four children were struck by an eastbound train. This resulted in the death of the mother and three of the children, ages 18, 13, and 10. The fourth child was airlifted from Fayette County Hospital for medical treatment.
An estimated 2,000 people were lined up along Gallatin Street for the annual Lions Club Halloween Parade, an event that has been in downtown Vandalia for 70-plus years.
This is a tragedy that no one could expect to happen on an evening of excitement due to the pending parade.
First and foremost, the city of Vandalia extends its prayers and condolences to the family involved in the accident. We cannot begin to fathom the pain and anguish they have during their time of mourning those they have lost and the strength they must also undertake as they stand beside those injured.
We also pray for the witnesses, first responders, train engineers and the citizens of Greenville and Vandalia that they may find peace as they begin to process the events of that evening.
I would like to commend our first responders: Vandalia Volunteer Fire Department, Vandalia Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Hospital Ambulance, Altamont Ambulance, Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen, Illinois State Police, CSX Railroad personnel and the many bystanders who rushed in to help where they could.
Each of these groups went above and beyond their call to duty and handled the accident scene like true professionals.
No one can ever plan for a tragedy like this in their family or their community, but it makes me proud to see everyone come together in a time of crisis and come to one common goal to support each other and the family.
Mayor Rick Gottman

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