Train conductor explains what happened moments after seeing three teenagers tragically die while posing for selfies

A train conductor has recalled the harrowing moments before a train crashed into a group of teenage girls.

In 2011, 15-year-old Essa Ricker and Kelsea Webster, along with Kelsea’s younger sister Savannah, were together.

As many teenagers did back then – and still do – the trio documented their day through photos which they then uploaded to social media.

But a seemingly harmless selfie tragically cost the girls their lives.

Three teenagers died in 2011 after being hit by a train (Union Pacific/Essa Ricker/Kelsea Webster/Savannah Webster)

Essa, Kelsea and Savannah took a photo near a railroad track in Utah’s scenic Spanish Fork Canyon and had no idea a locomotive was coming up behind them.

Unfortunately, they were hit by the train and died from their injuries.

John Anderson was the conductor inside the locomotive of the eastbound Union Pacific train at the time of the incident.

Also on board was engineer Michael Anderson, who honked the train horn at the girls to get their attention, but to no avail. They both yelled at the teens as well.

“They were in their own little world,” John recalled.

Essa Ricker was 15 years old at the time of her death (legacy.com)

“We watched in horror as we got closer. We saw them for about 12 seconds until they disappeared from view and the train continued moving.”

When they managed to stop the train, John got off and found that Essa and Kelsea were both sadly dead.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Savannah was seriously injured by the train but still alive.

John said: “I told her everything would be fine and she relaxed a bit. I was hoping she would make it and for some reason I really thought she would.”

Unfortunately, Savannah did not survive and her loved ones had to turn off the girl’s life support machine after learning that she would not recover from her remaining brain damage.

Moments before her death, Savannah posted on her Facebook page: “Standing right next to a train ahaha it’s awesome!!!! (sic)”

Giving an update at the time, Savannah and Kelsea’s mother, Jayna Webster, wrote in a blog, according to MailOnline: “We spoke to the doctors today and they informed us that Savvy’s brain damage was too severe .

Even though they did everything they could, Savannah won’t be able to recover from this any longer. We will keep her on life support until the end of the day, but it is time to say goodbye, for now, to an angel who walked among us.”

Savannah died on October 19, 2011, a few days after her sister and Essa.

If you have experienced bereavement and would like to speak to someone in confidence, contact Compassionate friends at (877) 969-0010.