Passenger Trains > Once again...go around crossing gates and DIE.

Woman killed in Meridian after SUV hit by Amtrak train
WAPT
Apr 16, 2015

> MERIDIAN, Miss —A 57-year-old woman has died after the SUV she was
> driving was struck by an Amtrak passenger train in Meridian.
>
> Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said the incident happened
> about 3 p.m. Wednesday where Hawkins Crossing Road intersects the
> double-tracked Norfolk Southern Railway northeast of downtown
> Meridian. Cobler said he's withholding the woman's name because all
> family members hadn't been notified as of Wednesday evening.
>
> Cobler said the woman drove around operating gates and flashers and
> was struck by the southbound Amtrak Crescent. Cobler said the woman's
> vehicle was pushed nearly a quarter-mile, and the woman died within
> seconds.
>
> Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said there were no injuries among
> the 51 passengers and crew. She says the train continued its trip
> toward New Orleans after an hour's delay.

Woman killed in Meridian after SUV hit by Amtrak train

If people want to gamble, may I suggest the Powerball? Your chances are grave but at least the gambler could get a positive out of this method.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/15 09:47 by shorthoodlead.

Minimal delay, no injuries, derailment or damage to train.  Good report.

On the down side.  A light passenger load and the fact that family members will be scarred for the rest of their lives due to the apparent idiotic actions of this woman.   

In addition, the scarring of anyone who had to witness the event, or see the body should not be taken lightly.  No one wants to see that.  Not the crew, not the innocent bystanders and not even emergency responders. 

It really boggles the mind why people do this, but alas humans do many things that they shouldn't.    Until next time....

It seems people regard downed gates the same as yellow traffic lights - go faster or drive around it.
Several years ago, I was on a Crescent west of Charlotte that hit a car and killed the occupants. The car hit the side of my sleeper car. I slept right through it, and never knew until people were talking about in the diner the next morning.

The article does point out something else of interest:  the "sold out and heavily used" passenger train often touted on this board is not necessarily all that common.  51 passengers on board.

The train was never a stellar performer west of Atlanta.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> The train was never a stellar performer west of
> Atlanta.

Because it has a route set up for the population and demography of 1960, when New Orleans was still queen city of the south.

A modernized approach would have long ago shifted the route to Houston or Dallas/Fort Worth.

I'd send it via Montgomery and Mobile.

 Sorry to hear about this trajedy.  But, getting the train under way in an hour seems pretty quick, compared to ususal reports. 

 

Jim Montague
IRVINE, CA
Train and Nature photo Art

Ridership is low account the "off season". Spring break is over and kids are back in school. Other modes are going through a "patronage slump" too. Nothing to see here. Move on.

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The article does point out something else of
> interest:  the "sold out and heavily used"
> passenger train often touted on this board is not
> necessarily all that common.  51 passengers on
> board.

Yup, people in general are train stupid (driving around crossing gates, not riding them), so there's no point in touting a high speed version of the same either.

shorthoodlead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If people want to gamble, may I suggest the
> Powerball? Your chances are grave but at least the
> gambler could get a positive out of this method.

When you run through flashing lights and crossing gates your chances are grave, too.