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The quiet of a Sunday evening in Fremont, Ohio, was shattered on May 18, 2025, when a freight train struck a family on a railway bridge over the Sandusky River, leaving a community in mourning and a family forever altered. Mitokala, a 58-year-old grandmother, and her 38-year-old daughter, O. Naing, both originally from the Mamu Refugee Camp and later resettled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, lost their lives in the collision. A 14-month-old girl, believed to be O. Naing’s daughter, was pulled from the river by nearby fishermen who performed CPR, reviving her before she was rushed to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, where she remains in critical condition. Most heartbreakingly, a 5-year-old girl, Mitokala’s granddaughter, remains missing, presumed swept away by the river’s currents. As dive teams and emergency responders comb the Sandusky River, the small city of Fremont grapples with a tragedy that has touched every corner of its close-knit community.

The incident unfolded around 7:30 p.m. near the Miles Newton Bridge, a steel structure spanning the Sandusky River along Hayes Avenue, roughly 40 miles southeast of Toledo and 90 minutes west of Cleveland. The bridge, elevated some 40 feet above the water, is part of a rail line operated by Norfolk Southern, connecting Toledo and Cleveland near the shores of Lake Erie. The family, part of a larger group from Fort Wayne, had come to Fremont for a fishing trip, drawn by the Sandusky River’s reputation as a prime spot for white bass during the spring season. Witnesses described a serene evening disrupted by the sound of a train’s horn, growing more insistent as it approached the bridge. David Tucker III, a 20-year-old local fishing nearby, recounted seeing several figures “drop straight into the water” as the train passed, their forms barely visible in the fading light.

Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez addressed the community on Monday morning, his voice heavy with grief. He described the family as part of a larger group that had traveled to enjoy the river’s offerings, a common activity for both locals and visitors during fishing season. The mayor emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting the family, noting that first responders, including dive teams, drone crews, and sheriff’s deputies from Sandusky and Ottawa counties, have been working around the clock to locate the missing child. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has also joined the effort, coordinating with local authorities to navigate the river’s challenging depths, which vary from shallow stretches to deeper, more treacherous sections as it flows toward Sandusky Bay.

Investigators from the Fremont Police Department, the Sandusky County Coroner’s Office, and Norfolk Southern are working to piece together the circumstances of the collision. It remains unclear why the family was on or near the tracks, which are clearly marked as a train-only bridge with no pedestrian access. Questions also linger about the functionality of warning signals and the train’s speed at the time of impact. Norfolk Southern issued a statement expressing sorrow and pledging cooperation with the investigation, but details remain sparse as the inquiry continues. The Miles Newton Bridge has been closed to all traffic, and authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency operations to proceed unimpeded.

The tragedy has resonated deeply in Fremont, a city of about 16,000 where fishing along the Sandusky River is a cherished pastime. Mayor Sanchez noted the outpouring of support from residents, though he cautioned against untrained volunteers joining the search, citing the risks posed by the river’s currents and the need for professional equipment. For the family, the loss is compounded by linguistic barriers; many surviving relatives do not speak English as a first language, prompting first responders to use translation tools to communicate updates. As the search for the missing 5-year-old enters its second day, Fremont holds its breath, hoping for a miracle while mourning the lives cut short in an instant. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities promising further updates as they uncover the full scope of this devastating event.