Three women in a car were killed Friday in a car-train collision at a railroad crossing in Ichinomiya, Chiba Prefecture.
The victim's identities were not immediately known.
The JR Sotobo Line express train crashed into the car at Miyahara crossing between JR Yatsumi and JR Josoichinomiya stations. The car caught fire after the collision.
The female driver died from injuries after she was thrown through the front window of the car. The other two were burned to death in the vehicle.
The approximately 200 passengers riding the train were unharmed.
According to police, the train conductor said that the car forced its way onto the crossing by breaking through the warning barrier.
Police suspect that the car's driver did not see the crossing because there was no sign of brake marks at the site.