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CATS light rail service resumes after deadly 3-car crash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Service to the LYNX Blue Line was restored Sunday after a three-car crash Friday night that killed one woman and injured multiple others.

Officials said the crash happened at the intersection of South Boulevard and Clanton Road.

When officers arrived on the scene, they said they found the three vehicles on the Charlotte Area Transit System LYNX Blue Line tracks.

Paramedics treated five people with injuries, officials said.

Saturday morning, police said 65-year-old Paulette Lawrence died at the scene of the crash. She was a passenger in one of the vehicles.

[RELATED: Here's what the Amtrak engineer said in his call for help after fatal derailment]

Police said Kenitra Peterson was speeding in her Hyundai Sonata on Clanton Road when she rear-ended the Dodge Nitro in which Lawrence was a passenger. Investigators said that after the collision, both vehicles traveled through a red light and went into the intersection.

Lawrence’s vehicle then struck the side of a third SUV. Both vehicles entered the light rail tracks and overturned, police said.

[RELATED: LYNX Blue Line repair work done, trains resume service]

Peterson's two young children were seriously injured in the crash. Her 10-year-old daughter
and 5-year-old-son are being treated at Carolinas Medical Center, according to officials. Her son's injuries are life-threatening, police said.

Police said alcohol was not a contributing factor in the crash, but that speed and reckless driving were. Charges against Peterson are pending, police said.

CATS officials said the crash damaged fencing, crossing gates and signal systems.

Crews worked through Saturday and early Sunday to repair the damage, officials said.

A bus bridge was put in place between Archdale and New Bern stations, but was discontinued when Blue Line operations resumed.

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