KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Two East Tennesseans were killed and a third was seriously injured Thursday morning when they collided with a commuter train in South Florida.

Det. Kathy Collins with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department told Volunteer TV News on Thursday night that the victims were Connie Hamblin, 44 of LaFollette and Felicia Hatmaker, 22 of Pioneer. Eddie Hamblin of LaFollette remained hospitalized at North Broward Medical Center Thursday night in critical but stable condition.

Police officials said the crash occurred at 8:45 a.m. while Connie Hamblin was driving her two passengers east on W. Commercial Boulevard. As she was pulling over a rail crossing just east of Interstate 95, she apparently realized a Tri-Rail commuter train was coming.

According to witnesses, Hamblin stopped on the tracks and put her car in reverse. As she backed up she ran into the crossing arms which had fallen. Other drivers said they began honking their horns to get her attention, and they saw her start to accelerate forward right as the full commuter train reached the crossing.

"You're rooting for them to get out of the way,” said George Moreno, who witnessed the accident. “Then all of a sudden the train hits them and it was gone. The car was completely gone.”

A Tri-Rail spokeswoman told the media there were 250 passengers on board the more than 300-ton commuter train as it sped through the crossing at around 60 miles per hour. The impact flipped Hamblin’s Toyota Camry off to the side of the tracks. Connie Hamblin and Felicia Hatmaker were both thrown from the vehicle and landed a short distance away. Both later died on the scene.

Bystanders immediately sprang to action. Some called 9-1-1 and others tried to help the victims.

“I tried to check for a pulse, she was still breathing,” said Brandon Williams, who also witnessed the wreck. “After a couple, maybe a minute or two, she stopped breathing."

Fort Lauderdale Police said their preliminary investigation revealed all the safety features at the crossing, including the railroad crossing arms, lights and bell were function properly at the time of the collision.

The incident is still under investigation and the case has been handed over to the FLPD Traffic Homicide division.

Stay with Volunteer TV News and VolunteerTV.com for the latest on this developing story.