Just saw this a minute ago on the website of one of the local news stations
Just saw that myself a few ago on WHAS,showed some pictures of what looked like an eastbound
NS stack train had hit the passenger side of the deputy’s cruiser. The crossing looked like
it only had “crossbucks” for protection. He was StatFlighted to University Hospital here in
Louisville,in serious condition.He had just left the “firing range”,guess qualifying with his weapon(s)
Oh man, what a drag. Hope he is OK.
The only crossing I’ve ever seen in Waddy was a double-track one, but, as I recall, it only had a crossbucks for protection. Admittedly, I’m not all that familiar with Waddy, but there can’t be too many more crossings.
I’m currently at school in Georgetown, and we don’t get any Louisville TV stations. WLEX just mentioned it briefly at the start of the program, and didn’t add too many details.
And this may only be the start of his problems?
A number of years ago Ky Highway Patrol Officers, I was also told at the time sheriffs and their deputies, as well as some municipal officers were responsible for the insurance on their cruisers; the State furnished the vehicle, and the individual officer furnished the insurance for that vehicle. This was able to be carried out because Kentucky is not a State, but a Commonwealth. The topic came about after a police chase in which a fleeing fellon wrecked and or damaged a number of cruisers in that pursuit. The cops were most upset about their insdurance rates going up without added compensation from their employers. I don’t know if this is still true in Kentucky.
Funny we all call them ding a lings when they are just a average Joe Blow. Cause this guy is a law enforcement office we treat him with TLC. Why?
They’re calling it “King’s Highway”,which I’m not familiar with,nor can find in my Ky. DeLorme’s Atlas.
I used to get off at the Waddy exit,get diesel for my pickup at the truck stop there,and come the rest of
the way home on back roads.The only other crossing in that area that I know of,is on Ky. 55,and that
one has gates and flashers;all the pictures they’ve shown thus far,show only “crossbucks” & a 2 track sign.
I was just thinking the same thing, that we’re exhibiting two different sets of standards here. I echo: Why?
As far as I can tell from what I’ve just read, no one is saying anything negative;
let’s all just wait until all the facts are reported. Why are you all saying
he’s getting prefential treatment?!?! Apparently, since the crossing was
in view of the firing range, there were other officers in view of the accident, and
could radio for help more quickly, possibly, than in other circumstances.
CW, Consider the source of that statement, our resident troll.
Were his lights and siren on? Are they going to cite the engineer for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle?
Maybe the train was getting even for this http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=5355679.
Yeah Chad,you’re correct;looks like we need to consider several sources.
Our thoughts are with him and the crew up here in Northern KY. I am sure a complete and fair investigation will be completed. Just got to hope that everyone is OK. That’s the main thing.
They had a 15 year old that got struck by a train in Walton KY this evening. They had to aircare him from the scene. Nothing has been noted yet whether it was NS or CSX, but I am thinking it was CSX. If an NS train hit him, it more than likely would have killed him. They run a just tad faster than CSX in that city.
Brian (KY)
How the hell could they cite the engineer for failure to stop for an emergency vehicle…? Are you familiar with air brakes and steel wheels?
Saw that on the news last night about the 15 year old in Walton also. That too is really sad.
This just has not been a good week in Kentucky.Two plane crashes and two people getting hit by trains.
You can’t cite a railroad train for failure to yield- they have the right of way. Even stopped trains on crossings can’t be cited for impeding emergency service vehicles until they have been there for 15 minutes in most states.
Believe it or not, police officers and sheriff’s deputies do get in accidents. Depending on how militant their bosses are, they can even be cited (as in traffic tickets) for misconduct with a police vehicle. I personally know of a lieutenant in Arizona who was responding to a call- with lights and sirens- who failed to stop at an intersection and got T-boned. He was cited for being at fault, and yes, he got points on his license and higher insurance rates.
I don’t know of any department that condones violation of basic safety rules to answer calls. Even lights and sirens don’t relieve an officer of the requirement to drive safely.
This is another example of someone making a mistake. Just because he wears a uniform, badge and gun doesn’t make him any less human, just more visible. He (or she) faces a long period of recovery, followed by a lot of disciplinary action. Give the guy a break.
Erik
That’s just the point “spbed” was trying to make. If “we” are treating victims of “train vs. auto” incidents equally on these forums, then why no one is referring to this particular victim with the same language as they have so many others in the past – where posters deem them “idiots” and “morons” and “Darwin Award” candidates?
Does being labeled a “troll” mean everything “spbed” says has no value and should be ignored?
BTW – the officer is still listed in critical condition. The latest story says he was not wearing a seat belt when the collision occurred.
This is a key to his condition. The one photo of the car I have seen and the one article I have read seem to indicate it was a very survivable crash, provided proper protection was in use. Unfortunately for the officer (and his family), he made the decision not to wear a seatbelt.
Don’t really know why he was running the crossing, and until he tells us, we are working blind on that.
But as Erik pointed out, cops are human, and make mistakes too, just like me and you.
I bet if he returns to the force, he never runs a crossing again with out the standard look listen and live routine being on his mind.
And I bet he issues a few more citations to those who ignore the gates and lights.
I have noticed that for the most part, people tend to crap on cops, till they need one, then they go from being “cops” to being “Mr. Police Officer…funny how that double standard never gets much press.
Ever wonder about what a cop sees on a daily basis?
He doesn’t get to talk to folks like you or me.
He does get to talk to rapist, murders, thieves, car burglars, fun folks like that.
For the most part, he gets lied to pretty much all day…and then has to go home and pretend everything is normal.
Not to hard to see why cops eat their gun more than any other profession.
On of the reasons I left the Attorney Generals office was because all day long, I had to deal with the dregs of our society, and then go home and act like everything was great.
Do I get mad at the people who run the gates?
My cousin is a first-responder for the volunteer fire department at Philo, IL. About seven years back, they recieved a call for a man who was hit by a eastbound train. When they arrived at the scene, all they saw was a red spot on the tracks, and the end of the train. His body was found 75 yards east of the point of impact, and it was laying in the street, missing his arm. The arm was later found nearby between the rails.
My cousin went throughabout 6 months of therapy for this Incident.
My point is:
Its not only the train crew and the family of the “victim” (used lightly) who are affected by such events, but also the people responding when the call goes out.