Locally this weekend we had a Cape Cod Central pulling a sight seeing train hit a idiot in a pickup truck up in Sandwich. It seems the 17 year old driver and his 13 year old passenger were trying to beat the train and didn’t make it. They were both hospitalised.
How many times have we heard this?
Luckily the CCC doesn’t travel very fast. Some of the crossings don’t have gates but do have flashing lights, some require a flagman. Some crossings are private and require a alert driver to look for the infrequent train. I don’t know what type of crossing it was but what is the big deal about stopping and waiting for the train? The CCC is usually no longer than 4-5 passenger cars.
Luckily the kids were not killed and the RR will be lucky if their parents don’t sue.
Todd,
The railroad should sue the parents for the damages caused to the equipment by the negligence of the driver attempting to run the crossing.
Bob C.
Bob Cope said:
Todd,
The railroad should sue the parents for the damages caused to the equipment by the negligence of the driver attempting to run the crossing.
Bob C.
I agree with that. Don’t trains have the right of way at crossings, since the highway is crossing RR property, and since the RR was there first?
I think that established law is on the side of the railroads.
Yes, trains always have the right of way. I have even seen a few crossing on a shortline that have yield signs up in front of crossing signs.
Well the law MAY say so, but in practicality it is ALWAYS the fault of the railroad. Years ago the BN was sued by the families of a car-load of teenagers who were killed by a fast moving freight at a crossing with gates. The BN lost big time. Seems “experts” determined the gates did not come down nor the warning flash as the young driver clearly would not have gone around a flashing signal. I am always amazed how we blame a train, as if it swerved to hit the car at the last minute.
Our local light rail however is frequently involved in accidents as some of the intersections are extremely complex. There are a few so poorly designed that I can understand how a driver can be confused and cross paths with the LRT.
Steve Featherkile… Law or no law, “There bigger too and give out Ouches and don’t say I’m sorry either.” lol
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/noelw/Smilies/36_11_1.gif)
I have found out more about this collision. The gates were working the lights flashing and from eye witnesses the kid went around and BAM. Seems like a clear cut case of stupidity but with the way the world is now a sleazy lawyer could get his hands on it and drag it out in hopes of getting something out of our little struggling local RR.
There is a crossing spot in Hyannis that is 5 lanes wide and is routinely backed up with traffic. Most people have no clue and will sit inside the zone where the gates would come down if a train did come along and they wait for the green. Luckily the train is just getting going at this point so they can stop well before crashing.
This recent crash happened up in Sandwich.
Law or no law Get out of the way
There is a crossing that I have to use to get to a friends house, that I dread using. It is only protected by crossbucks. I have have seen only one train on it, traveling at about 25 mph, but the rails are well polished, so it does get frequent use.
The sightlines are horrid. I have to stop, roll down the windows to listen for the locomotive’s horn, because I cannot see more than a hundred feet down the track from a safe stopping point. I’m trusting the engineer to whistle the crossing, too. I’m guessing that track speed is around 25 mph, given the nature of the beast.
I’ve seen cars who are much more familiar with the crossing not even slow down for it. People behind me honk their horns to get me moving, too.
I guess they have super powers that I don’t have.
My Physics teacher in High School taught us: “When you come to a train crossing, don’t slow down. Go faster. The train has less chance of hitting you.”
This is why most RRs and most every light rail/trolley line now have cab end cameras, I would not be surprised in the coming years to see cameras installed at crossings as well.
The odds are against you winning at beating a train. Most folks that get hit are within 25 miles of where they live and do not live to tell the story. Yes there are the Lawyers that go after the RR and sad to say the RR will give them some money just to save face and end the publicity, With the new laws about the RR having black boxes hopefully this will change.
I know years ago in most of the states I lived in, one of the questions on the drivers test is what to do when approaching Rail crossings not protected. Answer is Stop, LOOK and Listen. I hope all folks keep this in mind. Glade to hear Steve that you do this at the crossing that does not have the best visibility.
I laugh when I hear some of these lawyers make there stupid comments about the RR at fault. Later RJD
"Most folks that get hit are within 25 miles of where they live ". Ya know, I heard that, so I moved.
Chester Louis SA #64 Hampshire County Narrow Gauge
Good video of stupid Vic. I’ll bet that the guy found a lawyer to try and to get money from the RR.
The person that hit the train in that video probably did get a lawyer… to get him off the DUI charge! How can you not see a train? Unless you are under the influence of something?
He probably claimed the gas pedal got stuck or his brakes failed or maybe the sun was in his eyes?? You can’t fix stupid but stupid sure knows how to pass the blame.
Those 2 kids that hit the Cape Cod train certainly have lots of explaining to do not only to the authorities but to their Dad. The boy was driving his Fathers new 2013 Chevy pickup. OUCH!
“Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can’t help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.” Lazarus Long, ca 2342
Dave Taylor said:
Good video of stupid Vic. I’ll bet that the guy found a lawyer to try and to get money from the RR.
And I’d bet the lawyer was very confident he was going to get the railroad to settle…right up till he watched that video.
It happened again!
I heard on the radio this morning that a lady was trying to beat and ended up hitting the Trash train up by the canal before it crossed the bridge.
No serious injuries but the engine was scuffed up but was able to go on its way. I’m sure her car didn’t fair as well.
Luckily for these people that are trying to beat these trains that they are moving slowly. We do have a experimental Summer service operated by the “T” from Boston to Hyannis which is doing well and the service has been continued to Columbus day BUT I wonder what would happen if that one was hit by some idiot and they died?
It is only a matter of time.
Had one several years ago…kindergarten teacher…no gates or lights…but a big STOP sign. Went right through, in the dark, right in front of a pair of GP-9’s hauling the dinner train at 20MPH, lights on, horn blaring…put the coupler through the passenger door and shover her 150 feet down the track.
I heard it on my railroad radio…about a block from where I worked.
Drove down, tow truck driver couldn’t get the car out…wedged between the rails.
I slid under with a floor jack and jacked it clear.
She sued, city paid rather than go to court.
What else does a stop sign mean, morons?
She lived, heard after she got out of the hospital, she moved.
Far away, I hope.
TOC
Todd Haskins said:
It happened again!
I heard on the radio this morning that a lady was trying to beat and ended up hitting the Trash train up by the canal before it crossed the bridge.
No serious injuries but the engine was scuffed up but was able to go on its way. I’m sure her car didn’t fair as well.
Luckily for these people that are trying to beat these trains that they are moving slowly. We do have a experimental Summer service operated by the “T” from Boston to Hyannis which is doing well and the service has been continued to Columbus day BUT I wonder what would happen if that one was hit by some idiot and they died?
It is only a matter of time.
I’m reminded of something heard as a kid and never forgot:
“If you walk into a tree, you don’t blame the tree”