COLONA, Illinois - 50-year-old Cynthia Madden died last night trying to escape an oncoming train.  Police say that Madden's car got stuck crossing the train tracks.  Madden tried to get her car restarted but then realized an oncoming train was quickly approaching.  Madden tried to run out of the way, but the train slammed into her car and the car then slammed into her.

Madden was pronounced died later that night at a local hospital.  Today, her daughters, Jennifer and Carrie Dillard, went down to the train tracks today looking for anything that might be left behind from their mother's accident. 

"Her car died right there on the tracks and I guess she tried to get out because they said she got hit by the car.  I bet that train hit that car.  She was out of the way of the tracks but that came and she got hit by the car."

One of Cindy's sons met her in the emergency room but was not able to see her.

"He just kept yelling to her.  I'm here mom, I'm here mom.  And I asked him, ‘do you think she heard you?' And I don't think she did."

Carrie says her mom was having radiator trouble and actually got caught on those tracks earlier in the evening.  She was able to get the car started and reverse off the tracks to safety.  She called her son for help but then decided to try crossing again. 

Police were able to save Cindy's dog, Zeplin, who was in the car with her at the time of the crash.  Carrie knows she can't bring her mom back, but wants everyone to be extra cautious when crossing train tracks.

"When the lights are flashing, there's a reason they're flashing.  Just get out of the way.  A car, a dog that's all replaceable.  You are not replaceable."

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