Family mourns 21-month-old Gloria after tragic Amtrak train accident in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A 21-month-old girl named Gloria Elikana died after being struck by an Amtrak train on Wednesday night in Springfield. Her family, who are immigrants from Tanzania, is mourning the loss. The tragic incident occurred just after 6 p.m. near the family's home on Emily Street. Gloria was the daughter of immigrants who fled genocide in Tanzania and established a new life in the United States in 2016. Her siblings are reportedly struggling to understand and cope with the death of their younger sister. Springfield Police have taken over the investigation into Gloria's death. Ryan Walsh, a spokesperson for Springfield Police, stated that detectives are interviewing individuals in the area and the family. “Our detectives talk to everyone in the area, they talk to the family. At this point they're really waiting on some video from Amtrak itself,” Walsh said. Police have confirmed that the Department of Children and Families is scheduled to visit the home. The purpose of this visit is to assess if there are any indications of abuse or neglect. 22News crews observed a damaged fence at the end of Emily Street. This broken section leads directly up to the train tracks. It remains unclear who owns the land or the specific path the child took to access the tracks. However, the police are urging the public to exercise extreme caution around any train tracks and to remain alert. Walsh emphasized the danger, stating, “By the time their horn sounds, you blink, the train is already there, so do not play around train tracks, because at any time the train can come. It's not like a schedule, so stay away, it's just not safe for anyone.” Mayor Domenic Sarno of Springfield offered his sympathies to the grieving family. “My sympathy, thoughts, and prayers of encouragement go out to the family,” Mayor Sarno said. The family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs associated with Gloria's funeral. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.