A mother died days after giving birth prematurely when her girlfriend tried to beat an oncoming train and drove their BMW through a level crossing barrier. Rhonda Clay, 30, was killed in Houston Wednesday as she left hospital after delivering her newborn baby daughter by Cesarian section.

Her partner Brittine Green, 32, has been charged with manslaughter after driving past two waiting cars and onto a set of tracks, where a New Orleans to Los Angeles Amtrak train plowed into them, ejecting Clay from the car.

Rhonda, who has another older daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene. Green was injured and flown to hospital, where doctors quickly stablized her. Rhonda’s dad James says he has accepted her death as a tragic accident, and says Green would never have wanted to harm her partner.

He told KTRK: ‘I’m not upset with Brittine. I know she would not do anything to hurt Rhonda. My prayers are with her, so she can make it and everything will be okay.’

Meanwhile, Rhonda’s mother Cassanda says the sudden and shocking loss of her daughter has left her ‘numb.’

The dead woman’s family now plan to raise Rhonda’s new baby themselves.

Police say the arms of the crossing where the collision happened were down – a clear sign that a train was about to appear.

None of the 45 passengers or crew aboard the Amtrak train were injured, and it was able to continue on its journey an hour later.

Green is being held in Harris County Jail ahead of her next court appearance.

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