What should have been a joyful occassion turned into tragedy on Feb. 6 when a Fuquay-Varina woman lost her life after the vehicle she was driving collided with an Amtrak train in Raleigh.

Lynette Renee Fowler of Hilltop Needmore Road in Fuquay-Varina celebrated her 42nd birthday on Feb. 6. However, the day did not end joyously and Fowler died after her 1999 Chevy SUV was hit by a train.

According to the Raleigh Police Department accident report, officers responded to an accident involving a vehicle and an Amtrak train at 5:07 p.m. The accident occurred on the railroad tracks in the vicinity of Hoke Street and Hammond Road.

Fowler was the driver of the vehicle.

According to the accident report, Fowler was in a dirt parking lot of South Blount Street. The Amtrak was traveling in the northwest direction. When the train approached, the train crossing signs came down and the warning lights flashed. However, Fowler attempted to cross the tracks and was struck by the train.

After being struck by the train, Fowler’s vehicle then struck a curb and a nearby fence. Fowler died as a result of the accident.

The train involved in the crash was traveling from New York to Charlotte. No injuries were reported for those traveling on the train.