The mother and child killed yesterday when they were struck by a train in Derry have been identified as Sheila Singer, 37, and 2-year-old John Smart.

They were killed as she struggled to push John's stroller across the tracks in the Westmoreland County borough. Two of Ms. Singer's young daughters watched the accident in horror and escaped unharmed.

The family had just finished grocery shopping on East First Avenue about 5 p.m., officials said, and were taking a shortcut across a double set of railroad tracks to get to their home.

They had crossed one set of tracks and had begun to cross the second set when the victims were struck by the westbound Norfolk Southern train. The other children managed to dart across the tracks safely and saw the accident from the other side.

Derry police Chief Randy Glick, who was on routine patrol in the nearby shopping plaza, saw the train approaching and repeatedly motioned and yelled for the woman to move from the tracks.

The train blew its horn as it routinely does and is required to do as it passes through Derry. The speed limit in that area is 60 mph and officials said there was no indication that the train was speeding.

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