The three adults who were in the sports utility vehicle that collided with a light-rail train in south Sacramento on Jan. 28 were all American River College students.
Two adults in the SUV were killed, as well as a 22-month-old toddler. The third adult in the vehicle survived the crash and is currently in critical but stable condition.
Passenger Shante H. Williams, 25, her father Louis Leon Williams Sr., 62, and her 22-month-old nephew Damien Antiwon Williams, died. The lone survivor, Shante’s mother Demetric Deann Good Williams, 57, was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center.
At 4:10 p.m., the Nissan Pathfinder driven by Louis Williams, was waiting at the intersection on 26th Avenue, near 25th Street, close to Sacramento City College, according to police reports. The vehicle went around the crossing arms and onto the tracks where it was hit by a Sacramento Regional Transit train traveling at approximately 50 mph.
According to Sgt. Andrew Pettit, a spokesperson for Sacramento Police Department, the train, carrying approximately 50 passengers, was heading southbound on the Meadowview line when it collided with the SUV. The vehicle flipped and the train pushed it down the tracks for 20 yards but did not derail.
Medical personnel examined 17 passengers at the scene, police said. Three adults and three minors were later taken to an area hospital and treated for injuries.
Survivor Demetric Good Williams, a journalism major and former staff member at The American River Current, was thrown from the vehicle, according to her son Demetrius Williams, an ARC student. Demetrius Williams is the twin brother of Domonick Williams, an ARC student and the father of the 22-month-old Damien. In addition, Shante Williams’ twin sister Shantel Williams attends ARC.
According to Journalism Professor and Department Chair Tim Swanson, Demetric Good is enrolled in a journalism lab class this semester and had been planning to start a blog about her family.
“She had been talking about writing a book about her children and her grandchildren for more than a year,” Swanson said. “We thought a blog might be a good way to jump start the process.”
Shante Williams was enrolled in five units at ARC this semester, including math, piano and a fitness class, according to those who knew her schedule. Enrollment services confirmed that Louis Williams was a student at the college, but would not confirm his class load.
