Seven killed as train hits van in California

BAKERSFIELD, California (CNN) -- Seven people were killed Wednesday when the van they were riding in was struck by an Amtrak train near here.

Sgt. Roger Pierce of the California Highway Patrol said all seven died at the scene.

The Ford Aerostar van was traveling westbound on State Highway 43 at about 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET) and was just north of the rural town of Shaster when it was struck by a southbound, seven-car Amtrak passenger train traveling between Oakland and Bakersfield.

Pierce told CNN that there is a working crossing signal at the railroad crossing.

Units from the Bakersfield Police and Fire departments as well as the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to the scene but found no survivors among the van's occupants.

Highway Patrol officials at the scene said no one aboard the Amtrak train was injured.