Eastern Railroad Discussion > Volusia Cty, FL, Man Killed while driving on CSX Tracks

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Officials are investigating after they said a collision between a freight train and truck left an 87-year-old man dead early Monday morning.

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 1:15 a.m. in the area of West Beresford Road and Alexander Drive.

Initial investigation showed a pickup truck being driven by 87-year-old Billy Davis was traveling on West Beresford Road when Davis began to travel south on the train tracks, colliding with the train, according to officials.

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/volusia-county/fhp-87-year-old-man-killed-after-train-strikes-vehicle-volusia-county/6AQXVMTPTJGOPMFSXT6HSKUFJE/

What on earth is an 87 year old driving at night for?

Why not, if his vision is good and he holds a valid license? I'm 84 with excellent 20/15 vision, no glasses, perfect driving record.  Do you have a problem with that?, Maybe it was a suicide.

Or simply confusion on his part.  It is night driving - difficult for some.  Maybe he was lost and/or disoriented.  Maybe his wife yelled at him, so he go drunk.  Maybe.........

MEKoch Wrote:
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> Or simply confusion on his part.  It is night
> driving - difficult for some.  Maybe he was lost
> and/or disoriented.  Maybe his wife yelled at
> him, so he go drunk.  Maybe.........

...he ws following the instructions of a GPS.

TAW

If the man was identified as an individual in their 70s or in his late-60s, I would have immediately given Alzheimer's disease as a probable cause of the incident. However, in this case, being in his mid-80s and able to drive, while simatainiously suffering with that disease - at any point - is very rare, if not unheard of.

Matthew

It wouldn't be the first time it happened.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

TAW Wrote:
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>
> ...he ws following the instructions of a GPS.
>
> TAW

Very sad....

flarails882 Wrote:
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> What on earth is an 87 year old driving at night
> for?

What the hell does age have to do with it? Seems some idiots think it does and there are plenty of people half or less than that age who should not be driving at all. Get over the age, yes could be he should not have been but very few NO MATTER what there age is should not be behind the steering wheel at anytime day or night.  Oh by the way when I was a tow truck driver have removed more than one person from RR tracks after turning onto them by mistake. None were over 50.

Florida man. 

BAB Wrote:
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> flarails882 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What on earth is an 87 year old driving at
> night
> > for?
>
> What the hell does age have to do with it? Seems
> some idiots think it does and there are plenty of
> people half or less than that age who should not
> be driving at all. Get over the age, yes could be
> he should not have been but very few NO MATTER
> what there age is should not be behind the
> steering wheel at anytime day or night.  Oh by
> the way when I was a tow truck driver have removed
> more than one person from RR tracks after turning
> onto them by mistake. None were over 50.

Ever heard of Alcohol?

Cumberland Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the man was identified as an individual in
> their 70s or in his late-60s, I would have
> immediately given Alzheimer's disease as a
> probable cause of the incident. However, in this
> case, being in his mid-80s and able to drive,
> while simatainiously suffering with that disease -
> at any point - is very rare, if not unheard of.
>
> Matthew


And that's probably why you're not an investigator.

We had a man overtaken by a freight train at Galliver, Fl back in the 70's.
Fresh ballast had been unloaded even with top of rail and he mistook the railroad for an adjacent side street at night.
Did not kill him, but must have been quiet a sight seeing that oscillating headlight in the rear view mirror! 

Steve Panzik
Chiloquin, Or