Fredzania Thompson, a student at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas, had always dreamed of pursuing a modeling career.
Her mother, Hakamie Stevenson, told The Eagle that the day Fredzania passed away marked the beginning of that dream becoming reality — it was her very first photoshoot.
“Modeling was truly her passion — it’s what she was most interested in,” Stevenson said. “That’s exactly what she had set out to do the day she lost her life.”
Thompson was described as a strong athlete, a hair and makeup expert, as well as a caring companion.
Stevenson said Thompson was her five younger brothers and sisters’ role model.
“She was very helpful to her siblings,” her mom shared. “She was very outgoing and made sure that everything was taken care of with them. She was a leader.”
Not only did the 19-year-old have a close bond with her family, but she was also engaged to 25-year-old Darnell Chatman.
Thompson, who would have turned 20 just days after her death, called her fiancé two weeks before the tragic incident to share the news that she was pregnant.
Chatman recalled her crying happy tears down the phone to him: “She said, ‘You’re going to be a dad again.”
Chatman had a son from a previous relationship whom Thompson had a close bond with as his stepmother. The 25-year-old reported that his son was deeply troubled by the loss of her.
Chatman described her: “Zanie had the most beautiful smile, I believe she would want everyone to know what a kind and caring person she is.”
Thompson was killed in Navasota while posing for photos, her family shared an image taken of her just before she died.
The photo, taken by a friend, shows the 19-year-old posing confidently, smiling in an all black outfit and large black high heels.
Thompson had been taking part in the photoshoot on a train track. Witnesses told investigators she was standing where two train tracks meet.
Police said one set of tracks belonged to BNSF and the other to Union Pacific. Thomson was standing between the tracks and watching for an oncoming train from BNSF with her back turned toward an oncoming Union Pacific train.
According to local reports, the train driver attempted to warn Fredzania as the train approached.
Union Pacific spokesperson Jeff De Graff stated, “It appears there was a photo session taking place on the tracks. As the train neared, the crew spotted the photographer and another individual on the tracks, sounded the horn, and initiated the emergency braking procedure.”
Witnesses reported that Fredzania tried to move across the Union Pacific tracks to avoid an oncoming BNSF train but was struck by the Union Pacific train instead.
Tragically, Thompson passed away while being transported to the hospital.
