A 10 year old girl was killed in Hudson, CO yesterday as she tried to beat a BNSF coal train. And once again, it was all because of a “dangerous” crossing, at least according to some. Why do I feel like this is deja vu all over again.
I’m starting to get frustrated by this. How hard is it to teach children that you can’t win when racing a train? How hard is it to teach teenagers the same thing, and to teach them that if they stall their vehicles on the tracks, to abandon their cars?
It’s a tragedy that this young girl lost her life to this. But I also think its time to realize that ALL crossings are inherently dangerous if not regarded in a proper manner, and that we must teach all those using them how to do so safely.
That is sad. There is a railroad crossing in Baring, Missouri where I guess several people have been killed. The crossing is on a 85+ MPH double-track mainline of the BNSF, and if you do get stuck on it, if you don’t get out of your car (which would be outragous), you’re a gonner, because those long intermodal trains and especially a 90 MPH Amtrak won’t stop. There is a wooden cross by the Baring crossing, which does have lights, bell and gates. It’s just amazing how all of these people get killed because they don’t watch out. The crossing in Baring isn’t even in a “blind” spot, againt a cliff or something. In both directions you can see the tracks for miles. In fact, you can usually see a train coming before the crossing signals even come on! That just shows you how some people need to listen to crossing signals. Yeah, the gates may be on and you may see the train but it’s way off in the distance and you think, “Oh, I’ll have plenty of time to get across.” Then as soon as you start across, WHOMP! The train was going a little bit faster than you thought.
I believe that they should put the Operation Lifesaver comercials back on TV. They are scary but that’s the point. To keep people from being killed needlessly because they wanted to race the train.
A girl that young! [:O]
What was she doing riding a bike or something?
I agree with above.
[#ditto]
Although I’ve never seen a comercial for Operation Lifesaver it would do some good.
Here’s a small quote:
“Trains can’t stop, but you can!”
C Ya L8TER!
[8D][:D][:)][:P][{(-_-)}][(-D][swg][8D]
According to the story people were yelling at her not to cross, yet she did. The railroad and the “dangerous” crossing will somehow end up with the blame, even though she apparently made a conscious decision to ignore the warning signals.
If she had been killed by a car while crossing the street against a red light/don’t walk would the intersection be labelled as dangerous?
All railroad crossings (and intersections) are dangerous if not treated with the proper respect.
It is devastating in a small town like Hudson to lose a small child in a tragic accident. Population is about 1,000 according to Rand McNally atlas and is northeast of the Denver area on Interstate 76.
Education is the key to saving lives. The local school district will probably become more active in its safety programs, if they have not already started, involving railroad crossing safety.
Education begins at home! Do not drive around gates and through flashing signals with your children in the car. Children learn by example! Parents! Wake up!
(1) Irony, the UP ran an Operation Lifesaver special train for school kids in northern Weld County two weeks ago (Greeley-Wyoming border) using oneof the former Metra bi-levels.
Hudson is in southern Weld County on BNSF’s coal funnel into Denver into points south.
(2) the news media (Channels 2 and 7) have managed to butcher the truth again and partially put the blame on the railroad even though a local pins the blame on the town for not changing the geometry or location of the crossing long ago. - The train was hauling coal to Wyoming[?] Two conductors running the train[?] Trains in siding blocking vision[?] Trains speeding[?]
(3) A well placed person who should know tells me that certain elements (that used to be a profession) have oozed to the surface and slithered out from beneath their rocks have already made their grand entrance into Hudson.[V]
Unfortunately, the kid was on her way home (2 miles away) after visiting the local convenience store (BP Amoco Gas Station) between BNSF and I-76.
And this happened less than two weeks after a woman in her car was struck by a southbound Union Pacific in Greeley. The last I heard on that one was that it was a possible suicide by train though, still just as sad. It has just been a tough couple of weeks out there in Weld County. [:(]
Once upon a time, when I was in charge of PSAs at a television station, I made it a point to run the Operation Lifesaver PSAs as much as my bosses would let me.
Our area had a couple grade crossing accidents, but haven’t had them since I ran the spots. OTOH, traffic on the railroads is down as well, but I get the impression the spots didn’t hurt the situation, either.
I am turly sad that had to happen but. I agree with all of you that Operation Life Saver should run some sort of ad. So people will know the dangers of RailRoad crossings. If they would do that maybe people would get a little bit smarter about trying to beat a train to the crossing.
Take your target group (kids, driver’s ed class, whatever) to the nearest yard and have them look at how really BIG a locomotive is. I don’t think people realize how big they are and how they’ll always lose if they race them to the crossing.
1st off I have to say that is really sad to hear. I hate to say it but you know I think kids think they can outrun a train because they don’t know what can truly happen. Like even when your training to work for the RR the scare the living crap out of you so you don’t get hurt or even worse killed. Sometimes you can’t change what happen just learn from it and go on and hope someone else learned from it too.
Some years ago I happened to be near a crossing with my two (then young) kids as a train was approaching. We were standing close enough to the track (but not too close) that the kids got a definite feel for the mass and speed (track speed is 40 there) of trains, and informed me that we were “too close.” They have the necessary respect for trains.
I have raised three girls, and can tell you that some children will not be told anything. If they decide to do what they wish, then they incur the risks that every human faces. Sad, yes, but that is the way she goes.
Apparantly, people are stupid because we (as humans) cannot judge speed and distance of large objects very well. We tend to think that they are further away and moving slower than they actually are.