VERONA, N.Y. — State police say a husband and wife are dead after being thrown against the side of a passing train when their motorcycle hit a lowered warning gate at a central New York rail crossing.

Troopers say 39-year-old Leon Jason of Oneida was riding the motorcycle with his 37-year-old wife Sherry when they hit the gate at a crossing in Verona, 30 miles east of Syracuse, around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Police say the Jaysons were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say they were the parents of five school-aged children.

Troopers say the CSX freight train’s crew apparently wasn’t aware of the accident and didn’t find out about it until they stopped 10 miles from the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.