By William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DAYTON, Ky. - A mother and daughter were struck by a train and killed near their homes in northern Kentucky on Sunday, police said.

Lillian Vitatoe, 69, and Brenda McCulley, 52, both of Dayton, were attempting to cross railroad tracks at an intersection when they were hit by an eastbound CSX freight train about 7:30 p.m., said Dayton police Sgt. Raleigh Barnett.

Barnett said the train with about 10 cars was eastbound at Ninth and Thornton streets when it struck the two women. The gates were down and the flashing lights were functioning, he said.

"All indications are they walked around the barricades," Barnett said.

The women, who were pronounced dead at scene, were headed north at the crossing that splits the residential neighborhood when they were struck by the engine and dragged 30 to 40 feet before landing on the north side of the tracks, Barnett said.

The engineer and another rail employee told police the train was traveling at 32 mph when they noticed the women on the tracks and braked.

The train traveled about a block and half before it came to a stop. The speed for trains in the area is 35 mph.

Both women lived in the 800 block of Thornton Street.